E

vore

THE

VILLAGE BLACKSMITH

OR,

Jpietn anb Usefulness €*emfllifie&

IN A

MEMOIR OF THE LIFE OF SAMUEL HICK,

LATE OF MICKLEFIELD, YORKSHIRE.

By JAMES EVERETT.

FROM THE SEVENTH LONDON EDITION.

H Network:

PUBLISHED BY £ARLTON & PHILLIPS,

2 0 0 MULBERRY-BXRE E T .

is:),;.

PUBLIC

28 1 L62

AflTOR, LENOX AND
TU.06N FOUNDATIONS.

*• Thai not only the maxims, but the grounds of a pure mo-
rality.the mi-rr fragments ol which the ' lofty grara tragedians

taught in chorus or iambic,' an<l thai the sublime truths of the
divine unity and attributes which a Plato found most hard to
learn, and deemed it still more difficult to reveal ; th«t th<
should have become the almost hereditary property of child-
hood and BpTi rty, of the hovel and the workshop ; that en
to the unlettered they sound as commom-pkue, is a phenomer
which must withhold all but minds of the most fulgar cast
from undervaluing the te/rices even of the pulpit and the
ieadir.j-d''sk."

Coleridge's Biograpkia Lttcrarii, vol. i, p. 230.

GLOSSARY.

Oftentimes, pronounced offens.

Our,

hower.

Missionaries, .

mishonera

Eaten,

hetten.

Eat,

eight.

Societies,

sieties.

Would,

wod.

Open,

hoppen.

People,

pepell.

Perfect,

parfit, or parfeat, generally purfit.

Take,

talc.

Make,

male.

Outpouring, •

howtpowring, exceedingly broad.

Gave,

. gav.

Sown,

sawn.

Soon,

soen.

Where,

whur, whor, war.

Ordered,

auder'd.

Israel,

Hesrele.

Should, . -

sud.

Set,

setten.

Who, • •

hoc.

Mercy,

marcy.

What, • •

wat.

Enter,

henter.

Awake,

wakken

Methodists, . •

Metier disses, or Melherdisses.

Methodist, . •

Metherdis.

Turned,

torned.

Wet, . •

weet.

A ladder,

a stile, a slee.

Foot, . •

foet, "

Fool, . .

School,

Noon,

foel,

skoel,

noen,

divided nearly into two
syllables.

Night, . .

met,

Thus, agreeably to the above, Samuel, together with
his less educated neighbours, would pray for the Lord
to " wakken" the slumbering sinner.

UP. txCH. 23 JAN 1903

- 1 '

PREFACE

TO

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

Biographers have occasionally, though per-
haps unconsciously, glided into two opposite
extremes : they have either depreciated the
character of their subjects, or overrated their
excellences. To the former extreme they
have been led in various ways ; and in none,
among the less offensive, more than in writing
far and near for character; and after securing
their object, arranging the different materials in
their works, like witnesses in a court of justice,
to speak for the person in question. This, to
say the least, is putting the subject on his trial.
It is in this way that the Life of that excellent
man, the late Rev. William Bramwell, has been
doomed to suffer, and permitted to be swelled
to a useless extent, by the publication of opin-
ions* which were never given with a view to
appear in print ; and which, if even given for
that purpose, would have the same weight with
the public that the " Names of Little Note, re-
corded in the Biographia Britannica," had with
Cowper, especially in support of the character
of such a man ; a man who required no such
adventitious aid, but who, after all the prunings

* This remark refers to a second volume published in Eng
land, but never republished in this country. — Eds.

fi VILLAGE BLACKSMITH — PREFACE.

and parings of »hose who leasl admired him,
and, with only ■ lithe of Ins wisdom, looked up-
on him as a weak enthusiast, would have stood
a lovely tree fan the vineyard of the Lord, re-
freshing many with his verdure, protecting them
with his .shade, and enriching them with the
weight and luxuriance of his fruit. When an
author is reduced to the necessity of going
abroad in quest of character for his subject, it is
but too evident that the subject has not been
sufficiently at home with himself to be known ;
or, that, in addition to a paucity of material,
there is either incapacity lor the work, or doubts
o( the propriety of its execution. In the pre-
sent case, either the writer has not humility to
spare for such condescension, or he wishes not
to degrade his subject. Having no internal
misgivings, no suspicion, he considers his hero
not as on his trial, but one against whom no
charge is preferred, and therefore deems the
witness-box unnecessary. Let liim not, how-
ever, be misunderstood ; for though he has
gone in quest of matt rials, he has not gone in
search of character. He has procured materials,
in order to form an opinion of his oicn ; mate-
rials, which rose out of a character already
formed — a character imbodied in a " living
epistle" before the public, " seen and read of
all ;" and but for which character, such materi-
als would not have existed.

The other extreme into which biographers
have fallen has had its rise in an overweening
anxiety and partiality, inducing them on the

VILLAGE BLACKSMITH PREFACE. 7

one hand to render the character as perfect as
possible, in order to secure on the other an
ample share of the good opinion of the reader
Here the writer has again to plead disinclina-
tion. He has taken up the character of Samuel
Hick as it was, not as he wished it, nor as it
ought to be ; and has left the man as he found
him — in the rough, and unadorned ; somewhat
resembling the block of marble upon which the
first efforts of the artist have been employed,
where the human form has been brought out of
the unfinished mass, in whose core are to be
found all those hidden qualities which give
beauty to the surface, only waiting the masterly
hand of a Phidias, for the purpose of imparting
grace, and polish, and finish.

The circumstances under which the follow-
ing pages commenced, were carried on, and
completed, are these : — The good man, whose
life and character they profess to portray, de-
posited with the writer, about three years prior
to the period of his dissolution, some papers,
with a solemn injunction to prepare them for
publication. These papers were found to com-
prise broken materials of personal history, such
as he himself alone was capable of throwing
together, and such as it would fall to the lot of
but few, without previous and personal acquaint-
ance, to be able to separate and decipher. The
pledge of preparation was given, without the
specification of time, on either side, for its ful-
filment. Such was the heterogeneal character
of the papers, and such the complexion of many

8 1'ILLAGI BLACKSMITH — TRKFACE.

of the facts and incidents, that some of the for-
cer were totally useless, and some of the latter
unlit to meet the public eye ; the whole requir-
ing anotner Ittgoage, and bare allusion being
sufficient in many instances where amplification
had been indulged. Some time previous to the
decease of the subject, a degree of impatience
was expressed for the completion of the Me-
moir : but as no time had been originally speci-
fied, and as it was known that the good man
was imprudently pushed on to request its publi-
cation during life, by injudicious friendship, the
work, in mercy to himself, and for the still
higher honour of the religion he professed, nor
less richly enjoyed, was purposely delayed ;
from an impression that nothing short of the
publication of the whole would give satisfac-
tion. The writer's vow being still upon him,
added to which, having been urged by others
to furnish the public with a biographical ac-
count of the deceased, he has employed of the
papers thus referred to, together with others
which have since been put into his hands by
different friends, whatever he has found con-
vertible to the purpose of affording instruction
to the Christian community, as illustrative of the
grace and providence of God ; the whole com-
bining to furnish a living exposition of what has
proceeded from the source of truth, where it is
affirmed that " God hath chosen the foolish things
of the world to confound the wise ; mid God hath
chosen the weak things of the world to confound
the thine?* which arc mighty ; and hasr things nf

VILLAGE BLACKSMITH — PREFACE, 9

the world, and things which are despised, hath
God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to
bring to naught the things that are : that no fiesh
should glory in his presence."

It may be proper to mention, that some time
after the death of Samuel Hick, the writer
learned, by an application being made to him
for materials, that another person had it in con-
templation to prepare a Memoir ; but it was too
late : he had gone too far to recede : and as
he could not conceive what virtue his MS.
could derive from the simple process of passing
through a second person's hand to the press, or
what advantage he could reap by placing the
fruit of his labour at the disposal of one who
had neither held the plough nor scattered the
seed into the furrows, he preferred appearing
before the public in his own name, without al-
lowing the imperfections of his pages to be
charged upon others, or their merit — should
they possess any — to be claimed by any but
their legitimate owner.

Among the persons to whom the writer has
to acknowledge his obligations for information
respecting the subject of the Memoir, he would
not omit his friend, Mr. William Dawson, of
Barnbow, near Leeds, to whom the work is in-
scribed,— the Rev. Messrs. II. Beech, A. Lea-
royd, J. Hanwell, T. Harris, and J. Roadhouse,
together with Mr. Robert Watson, son-in-law
of the deceased, and other branches of the fa-
mily— the latter furnishing him with the use of
his correspondence.

A I) V E R T I S E M E N T

TO TnE

SECOND EDITION OF VILLAGE BLACKSMITH

The first impression of this Memoir having
heen sold in about the space of one month after
its publication, and several orders remaining
unfulfilled, the writer has been induced to send
forth a second. Though any attempt to conceal
his pleasure in the success of the volume would
appear sheer affectation, he is far from attribut-
ing the favour with which it has been received
to the manner in which he has performed his
task : for, had it not been for the subject — which
may be considered in some respects new in bi-
ography, and as holding the same relation to
serious reading, as a novel bears to the gravel
character of historical details, the volume might
have shared the same fate as many superior
compositions — that of falling dead from the
press. The literary world has heard a good
deal lately respecting the romance of history ;
and they have here an approach to the romance
of religious biography. Such forms of expres-
sion, the writer is aware, are liable to objec-
tions ; but he is unable at present to rind a more
appropriate term to express his views and feel-
ings in penning the Life of Samuel Hick — ■

VILLAGE BLACKSMITH ADVERTISEMENT. 11

character so singular, and yet so eminently de-
voted to God and to the best interests of man.

The reader will find some errors corrected
in the present edition, which had found their
way into the former, — several new incidents
and anecdotes introduced, — and a public ad-
dress appended, which the subject of the Me-
moir delivered in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
It is not improbable that many of the facts stated
in both editions may assume a new face to se-
veral readers — so much so, perhaps, as scarcely
to be recognised by those who may be in pos-
session of the hundredth oral edition ; but to
such persons as are aware how much the same
tale will become metamorphosed, in its passage
through a score of different lips and minds, it
will not be surprising that the writer should
differ in some important particulars from vague
report. He might state that he has received
communications from different persons, each
professing to have received the intelligence
from the lips of Samuel himself, yet widely dif-
ferent often, both in the principle and in the
detail. This could be accounted for from the
circumstance of Samuel having entered into parti-
culars in one instance, and only named the naked
fact in another ; and also from the different im-
pressions produced on the minds of the persons
themselves, none of whom might have thought
of a publicity beyond the domestic circle ; and
in each case the lapse of years seriously af-
fected the memory. Yet, with these inconve-
niences, and others that will naturally sugges'

12 VILLACJK ILACKSMITH ADVERTISEMENT.

themselves to the reader, every individual is
certain, in the integrity of his heart, that his is
the only correct \ eksion. This, as so many
extraordinary tales have been handed round re-
specting the subject of the Memoir, is admoni-
tory of caution; and as the writer has had ac-
cess to the ori'jmal documents, as far as penned
bv the subject himself, and from only part of
which a mutilated copy has been obtained, any
other separately published Life — under what-
ever pretensions — should be received with sus-
picion, both as to its details and the motive for
publication.

THE

VILLAGE BLACKSMITH

CHAPTER I.

His birth — Parentage — Hears John Nelson — Disturbance
during street-preaching — Is bound an apprentice to a black-
smith— His conduct — Attends a lovefeast — Becomes the
subject of divine impressions — Hears Thomas Peace — Visits
York — Scenes of riot — Hears Richard Burdsall — His con-
duct toward a persecuting clergyman — His heart increasingly
softened — Conviction — Mr. Wesley — The good effects of
that venerable man's ministry.

Samuel Hick, the subject of the presen'
memoir, was in the moral world, what some of
the precious stones are in the mineral kingdom,
a portion of which lie scattered along the east-
ern coast of the island, and particularly of York-
shire, his own county ; — a man that might have
escaped the notice of a multitude of watering-
place visiters, like the pebbles immediately un-
der their eye ; — one who, to pursue the simile,
was likely to be picked up only by the curious,
in actual pursuit of such specimens, and thus,
though slighted and trodden under foot, like the
incrusted gem, by persons of opposite taste, to
be preserved from being for ever buried in the
dust, as a thing of naught in the sand, after the
opportunities of knowing his real value — when
above the surface, had been permitted to pass

II J III. \ ILLAOK BLACJCSMl 1 H.

unobserved and unimproved; — one of those
characters, in short, that could only be disco-
vered when sought after, or forced upon the
tense* by oil own personal appearance, in the
peculiarities by which he was distinguished —
who was ever secure of his price when found
— but who would, nevertheless, be placed by a
virtuoso rather among the more curious and
singularly formed, than among the richer and
rarer specimens in his collection.

He was born at Aberford, .September 20th,
1758, and was one of thirteen children that had
to be nursed and reared by the " hand labour,"1
to employ an expression of his own, of poor,
but industrious parents. Through the limited
means of the family, his education was neces-
sarily very circumscribed, being chiefly confined
to his letters, in their knowledge and formation,
without advancing to figures : — and even these
— such was the blank of being which he expe-
rienced for several years afterward — appear to
have been either totally forgotten, or so imper-
fectly known, as to induce an inability to read
and write when he reached the age of man-
hood. This led him, in after life, when Sun-
day-school instruction dawned upon the world,
as the morning of a brighter day, to contemplate
the times with peculiar interest, and to wish
that he had been favoured witli the privileges,
in his younger years, which he lived to pro-
mote and to see enjoyed by others. The dream
of childhood .seemed to pass away, with all its
dangers, its " inject cares," and its joys, without

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 15

eaving a single trace of any interest upon his
memory, till he reached the seventh year of his
age ; and one of the first of his reminiscence's,
when sitting down at a kind of halting-post, to-
ward the close of his journey, to look back on
all the way which the Lord God had led him in
the wilderness, was just such an occurrence as
a mind imbued with divine grace might be sup-
posed to advert to, — anxious only to fix on fa-
voured spots, where God is seen in his minis-
ters, his providence, and his people.

Field and street-preaching had neither lost its
novelty through age, nor was it rendered unneces-
sary by a multiplicity of commodious chapels :
while the want of a suitable place, therefore, led
a Wesleyan itinerant preacher to take his stand
on the market cross, to proclaim, as the herald
of the Saviour, the glad tidings of salvation, the
inhabitants of Aberford were allured to the
ground, in order to listen to his message. Lit-
tle Samuel mingled with the crowd — gazed with
a degree of vacancy on the scene — heard, but
understood not. John Nelson was the preacher
— a man whose life was full of incident and
interest — who discovered no less prowess in
the cause of God, than his namesake, Nelson,
did upon the element for which he seemed
called into existence — and who stood, for the
fame he acquired, in a somewhat similar rela-
tion to Methodism, that the hero of the Nile
did to the British nation. In the course of the
service, a person prepared for the work by in-
toxication, having had three quarts of ale given

It) 1111. VILLkQE BLAlKb.MI'l II.

to him by throe Roman Catholics, who urged
him to the onsot, made considerable disturbance.
The people were annoyed, and the preacher
was thwarted in Ins purpose. The man exhi-
bited in his hand a piece of paper, from which
he either read or pretended to read; and being
possessed of a powerful voice, he elevated it in
true stentorian style, and bv force of lungs ren-
dcred the feebler voice of the preacher inau-
dible. A chain of circumstances contributed to
preserve the case alive in Samuel's recollec-
tion. The man was personally known to him
— he continued to reside in the neighbourhood
— afterward lost his sight — was supported by
begging from door to door — solicited alms from
Samuel himself, when the latter had become a
householder — was reminded of the circumstance
by him, and was either hypocritical or honest
enough to confess his belief that it was a judg-
ment from God — expressed his sorrow — and
finished his course in a workhouse. The uses
and improvements which Samuel made of cir-
cumstances and occasions even the most trivial,
were invariably devotional, and often pertinent
From an occurrence like the present, he woujd,
in stating it, exclaim, " Though hand join in
hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished ;"
then, with his usual quickness, his eyes spark-
ling, and beaming with a fine flow of grateful
feeling, he would advert to the difference be-
tween earlier and more modern times, exulting
in the quiet which reigned around, " every man"
being permitted, in patriarchal simplicity, to

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 17

'• sit" and to shelter himself " under his vine
and under his fig-tree," the hand of persecution
not being raised " to make him afraid."

His attention having been once drawn to the
subject of religion, by the peculiarities of Me-
thodism, it was soon reawakened by the return
of the preachers, whose visits, from the compa-
ratively small numbers of labourers employed,
were more like the return of the seasons, set-
ting in, earlier or later, and at wider distances,
than the regular succession of week after week,
or month after month. This irregularity, occa-
sioned by calls to new fields of usefulness, ren-
dered their visits, like the return of spring, the
more welcome to religious persons, and pre-
served on the face of the whole an air of no-
velty among the profane, which frequent repe-
tition, by producing familiarity, might have de-
stroyed. Whoever might have been the minis-
ters, whether in or out of the Established
Church, that he heard — and whatever might
have been the impressions received, not any
thing of personal importance is recorded, till the
lapse of a second seven years, when, at the age
of fourteen, he was bound an apprentice to Ed-
ward Derby, of Healaugh, near Tadcaster, to
learn the trade of a blacksmith. Here he ap-
pears to have been placed in a situation favour-
able, in some respects, for religious improve-
ment ; and in three sentences, the full power
of which, when tried upon the mind of another
person, he scarcely understood, he has struck
off a sketch, of his own conduct while filling

2

18 TBI MI.I.A'JI. r.F.ACKNMITH.

that situation. He states, that he had a " com
fortnhle time," that M the Lord gave" him " fa-
vour in the eyes of the people," and that he
''never troubled" his "parents for any thing
during" his " apprenticeship." We have in
this, in the way of implication at least, his cha-
racter as a servant, a neigkbowr, and a child ; for
had he not been diligent and faithful as a ser-
vant, kind and obliging as a neighbour, tender
and thoughtful as a child, there is not any thing
to induce us to believe that he could either have
been comfortaUr in his service, participated in
the favour of those around him, or that his pa-
rents would have been exempt from trouble,
owing to demands made both upon their pockets
and their patience.

He had not been long in his situation before
curiosity led him to a lovefeast, which was held
in a barn, at Healaugh. A good man of the
same trade with himself was the door-keeper ;
and either through a kindly feeling on that ac-
count, or from his having perceived something
in Samuel's general demeanour, which excited
his hope, he permitted him to pass, and ordered
him to mount the straw, which was piled up in
a part of the building, in order to make room for
the people. It was not long before the door-
keeper left his post, and advancing toward the
body of the congregation, commenced the ser-
vice. He remarked, in figurative language,
when describing the influence of the Spirit of
God upon his heart, that "the lire was burn-
ing," and that he " fell it begin at the. door.'1

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 19

So gross were the conceptions of Samuel, so
ignorant was he of the ordinary phraseology of
Christians, that, like Nicodemus on another
subject, he took the term fire in its literal ac-
ceptation, and in an instant his fears were
roused, his imagination was at work, and his
eye was directed to the door. He deemed his
situation among- the straw as one of the most
hazardous, and in his imaginings saw himself
enveloped in flame. He continued to fix an
anxious eye upon the entrance, but on perceiv-
ing, as he expressed himself, neither " smoke
nor fire," his fears were gradually allayed, and
he again lent an attentive ear to the worthy
man, who had borrowed his simile, in all proba-
bility, from the descent of the Holy Ghost, in
" cloven tongues like as of fire," and whose feel-
ings seemed to accord with those which stirred in
the bosom of the psalmist, when he said, " My
heart was hot within me : while I was musing
the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue."
There were two particulars which impressed
the mind of Samuel, and which he afterward
pondered in his heart ; the one was the high
value which the speaker stamped upon his
office, and upon the place, dignifying the old
barn with the title of a place of worship, and
affirming that he " had rather be a door-keeper
in the house of God, than to dwell in the tents
of wickedness ;" and the other was his declara-
tion of a knowledge of the fact, that his sins
were forgiven. Samuel could not conceive
how the temporary appropriation of such a

20 ] UK \ ILLAGB II. LOK8H1TH.

place to divine worship, &C, could constitute it
" the house of (*od," or what honour or plea-
sure a man could derive from the apparently
humiliating circumstance of keeping watch over
a door that many would be ashamed to enter.
Hut the knowledge of forgiveness puzzled him
most, and in this he seemed to have a personal
concern. His spirit clung to the fact, and he
could not help wishing that the case were his
own — that he knew it for himself; this plainly
implying a knowledge of sin, though probably
he was not painfully oppressed with his load.
He took occasion the next day to ask his mas-
ter how the man could know that his sins were
pardoned, and to express what he himself felt
on the subject, — a circumstance which would
lead to the conclusion, that his master possessed
something more than the mere semblance of
Christianity, though not sufficient to lead him
to establish the practice of family prayer.

Whatever was the knowledge which the
master imparted, Samuel's feelings and inquiries
are evident indications that he was visited with
" drawings from above ;*' and these were fos-
tered soon after by a local preacher from York, of
the name of Thomas Peace, who. while preach-
ing on the " remission of sins," and insisting on
a knowledge of it, confirmed by Scripture all
that had been heard from the lips of experience
in the barn. While the preacher wept, and
expostulated with the people, Samuel looked,
and listened, and also wept : but with him the;y
were tears of sympathy ; for in his boyish sim-

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITM. 21

plicity he concluded that the man must have
just come from the grave of his wife ; and with
equal simplicity, on his return home, he in-
quired of his master, who had become his
oracle, whether it was not on account of the
death of his wife that the preacher had been
weeping. His master told him — and this is an
additional proof of the light which he possessed
— that the tenderness manifested was occa-
sioned by the love of God which was shed
abroad in his heart, inspiring him with love to
his fellow-creatures. This was too high for
Samuel's comprehension, but not beyond the
feelings of his heart. He loved the man while
hearing him preach, but loved him more now,
ardently desired his return, and embraced every
opportunity of attending his preaching. His
heart was gradually softening — the great sub-
ject of religion was constantly revolving in his
mind, like an orb of light, yet he was unable to
fasten his thoughts down to the contemplation
of its particular parts, with the exception of the
doctrine of pardon — and withal, he had not
power over moral evil.

In 1776, when he had attained his eight-
eenth year, it being customary for the young
people of the neighbouring towns and villages
to visit the city of York on Whit-Monday, in
order to witness scenes of folly and dissipation,
especially wrestling-matches and fights, the
victors having prizes conferred upon them, he
joined his companions, repaired to the spot,
and became a spectator. But being naturally

22 THK VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

humane, and not having undergone any course
of brutal discipline, to render callous the better
Bad more under footings oi his heart, he was
nut able to enter into the spirit of such gladia-
torial scenes, — scenes more worthy of (Greece
;ind Koine in their pagan state, than of Christian
Britain. This was not his element; it was to
him a scene of "misery and cruelty," as he
afterward stated ; and averting his eyes from
these objects, he was suddenly attracted bv
another crowd of people occupying another part
of the same public ground, encircling a person
who was elevated for the occasion, and seemed
by his attitude to be haranguing his hearers.
Samuel left his associates, and before the mad-
dened yells and shouts of profanity had died
upon his ear, and for which that ear had not
been tuned, he was saluted with a hymn ; — the
two extremes furnishing an epitome of heaven
and hell — the one seen from the other, as the
rich man beheld Lazarus, only with this impor-
tant difference among others, no impassable
"gulf" was "fixed" between; "so that they
which would pass from" one to the other might
avail themselves of the. privilege. This was a
moment of deep interest ; and on this single
act, through the Divine Being putting special
honour upon it, might hinge in a great measure
the bearings of his future life. He was partial
to sinking, and as the hymn was sung in differ-
ent parts he was the more delighted. The
conspicuous figure in the centre was the late
Richard Burdsall, of York father of the Rev.

THE VILLAGE BLAi h. SMITH. 23

John Burdsall, who had, wilh his usual daring,
entered the field against the enemy, and was
mounted on what Samuel designated "a block,"
for the purpose of giving him a greater advan-
tage over his auditory, while animadverting on
the profligacy of the times.* Mr. Burdsall was
remarkably popular in his day, and was just
such a preacher as Samuel, from the peculiar
construction of his own mind, was likely to fix
upon, — one who would, on comparing the one
with the other, have stood at the head of the
-ame class at school, in which Samuel would
have been placed at the foot ; both being ft for
the class, as well as of it, — only the one having
attained to greater proficiency than the other, in
a somewhat similar line.f

Samuel's attention was soon gained, and his
affection won, which, to Mr. Burdsall, was of
no small importance ; for as he was proceeding
with the service, a clergyman advanced toward
him, declaring that " he should not preach
there, not if he were the Lord Mayor him-
self," threatening to "pull him down from the

*The Wesleyan Methodists have always been distin
guished for their zealous attempts to reclaim the worst part
of human nature first: for this purpose they have resorted to
markets, feasts, and fairs ; and in looking at the situation of
some of their oldest chapels, Whitby and other places, it
will be found that they frequently pitched their tents in the
most Sodomitish parts of a town, with a view to improve the
more depraved as well as the lower grades of society.

t Quaintness, wit, and imagination, were rarely absent in
Mr. B. Speaking to the writer once, in the city of York,
on his early call to the ministry, he said, " I seem to have
been something like a partridge : I ran away with the shell
on my head."

24 mi: I 11.1 ..\<.i: r.i \t ksmiiii.

block." Just as bfl wu preparing to carry his
designs into execution, Samuel, whose love to
the preacher was rack, that he felt, as he ob-
served, as if he " could lose the last drop of"
his " blood*' in his defence, stepped up to the
clergyman, clenched his hands, and holding
them in a menacing form to his face, accosted
him in the abrupt and measured terms of the
ring upon which he had but a few minutes be-
fore been gazing, — " Sir, if you disturb that
man of God, I will drop you as sure as ever
you were born." There was too much empha-
sis in the expression, and too much fire in the
eye, to admit a doubt that he was in earnest.
The reverend gentleman felt the force of it —
his countenance changed — the storm which was
up in Samuel had allayed the tempest in him —
and he looked with no small concern for an
opening in the crowd, by which he might make
his escape. Samuel, though unchanged by di-
vine grace, had too much nobleness of soul in
him to trample upon an opponent who was thus
in a state of humiliation before him ; and there-
fore generously took him under his protection,
made a passage for him through the audience,
and conducted him to the outskirts without mo-
lestation, when he quickly disappeared. The
manner in which this was done, the despatch
employed, and the sudden calm after the com-
motion, must have produced a kind of dramatic
effect on the minds of religious persons, who.
nevertheless, in the midst of their surprise
gratitude and even harmless mirth at the pre-

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 25

cipitate flight of their disturber, who was con-
verted in an instant by a mere stripling from
the lion to the timid hare, would be no more
disposed to justify the clenched fist, — the earth
helping the woman in this way, — than they could
be brought to approve of the zeal of Peter,
when, by a single stroke, he cut off the right
ear of the high priest's servant. Samuel in
stantly resumed the attitude of an attentive
hearer, without any apparent emotions from
what had just transpired. In the launching
forth of his hand, he gave as little warning as
the thunderbolt of heaven ; the flash of his eye
was like the lightning's glare — a sudden burst
of passion, withering for a moment — seen — and
gone.

The following good effects resulted from this
sermon — a high respect for the preacher, and a
stronger attachment to the Methodists as a peo-
ple ; both having a tendency to lead him to the
use of the means by which the Divine Being
conveys grace to the hearts of hr£ creatures.
He remarked, that after this period, in following
Mr. Burdsall from place to place, he travelled
" many scores of miles," and that he " never
heard" him without being " blessed" under his
preaching. His feelings were in unison with
those which dictated Ruth's address to Naomi,
" Whither thou goest, I will go ; thy people
shall be my people, and thy God my God ;"
and as far as circumstances would admit, and
he had light to discover the truth, he laboured
to give vent to the overflowings of his heart.

26 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

His case was one which would lead to the con-
clusion, that his religion conn—need in heat
rather than Ugki ; that he continued lor some
time, even beyond this period, more the subject
of impression than of instruction ; felt, in short,
what he was unahle to express to others, and
for which he could not account to himself. He
had been touched by the wand of Moses at
Horeb, which had unlocked some of the secret
springs of his heart, and put them in motion,
rather than been in the tabernacle with Aaron
the priest, illuminated and perfected by the
Urim and the Thummin. His heart was much
more assailable than his head, and, as will af-
terward appear, was much more at work through
life, and had a more commanding influence
over his conduct. Divine light was admitted
but slowly, not so much through any violent
opposition to it, or any process of reasoning
carried on in his mind against any of the par-
ticular doctrines of the gospel, as through a
want of power to arrange and classify his
thoughts, to connect one subject with another,
to trace effects to their causes ; a want of the
means of information, as well as a relish for
reading, had the means been at hand ; a cer-
tain quickness in catching particular points,
which led him to think as some Hibernians are
led to speak ; and a peculiarly animated tem-
perament, which disposed him to warm himself
at the lire of the Christian altar, rather than
silently gaze upon a cloudless sky, the splendid
canopy of the great temple of the universe.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 27

He seemed, in fact, to carry the more fiery-
part of his trade into his religion, as he subse-
quently carried every part of his religion into
his trade. Full of the best and warmest feeling
for the religion of Christ and its professors,
and using the means in order to attain it, he
was now in a hopeful way, not only of verging
toward it, but of entering into its genuine spirit.
To these kindlings, yieldings, and advances,
was at length added conviction, though not the
most poignant. The clouds which overhung
his mind began to break away. This was ef-
fected by the ministry of the Rev. John Wesley.
The chronology of this event is placed by
Samuel's widow in the fifteenth year of his
age ; but by himself, after the period of his
having heard Mr. Burdsall : and although the
memory of the former is generally more to be
depended upon than that of the latter, yet in
this case Samuel was probably the more cor-
rect of the two. It was in the old chapel at
Leeds where he heard the founder of Method-
ism ; and he scarcely appears to have been
sufficiently impressed with the importance of
personal salvation, during the first year of his
apprenticeship, to lead him so many miles from
home to hear a sermon ; nor does he refer to
any thing that seems to amount to conviction
prior to his York excursion. Still, the date is
of minor importance, provided the fact be se-
cured ; and the principal point to be attended
to is that of tracing the progressive steps by
which he was led to the knowledge of himself

28 rHl VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

and of God, and to the enjoyment of "pure and
undefiled religion." < »n entering the chapel,
he was awed and delighted at Mr. Wesley's
appearance, who, according to his conceptions
of angelic beings, seemed at first sight to be
"something more than man,"' even "an angel'
of God. This prepossession in favour of the
preacher, naturally prepared the way for a
speedy reception of the truths delivered. There
was one subject, however, and all in favour ot
the preacher which Samuel was at a loss to
comprehend. Mr. Wesley's prophetic soul
was led out, in some part of the discourse, to
connect with the revival of religion which was
going on, more glorious times ; intimating that
when his dust should mingle with the clods of
the valley, ministers more eminently successful
than either himself or others by whom he was
surrounded, would be raised to perpetuate and
extend the work. Not distinguishing between
ministerial tahnt and ministerial usefulness,
Samuel thought Mr. Wesley intimated that
greater preachers than himself would supply his
place ; thus giving Mr. Wesley the credit of
indirectly associating himself with the great,
though greater were to tread in his steps.
Samuel, according to his own exposition of Mr.
Wesley's words, could not conceive it within
the range of possibility for any one to equal,
much more to surpass him ; for, to use his own
language, " he preached like an angel." The
text was, " Show me thy faith without thy
works, and T will show you my faith by my

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 29

works/' James ii, 18. In addition to Mr. Wes-
ley's appearance, and his exalted character as
a preacher, we discover part of the secret of
Samuel's estimate of him in himself. It might
now be said of him, as of Saul of Tarsus, " And
there fell from his eyes as it had been scales ;"
immediately his mental vision was rendered
more acute, as well as enlarged. On hearing
Mr. Wesley, he emphatically " received his
sight," and that too in the most important sense ;
he had listened to one, of whom he might have
said, not indeed as the woman of Samaria,
" Come, see a man that has told me all things that
ever I did," but "Co?ne, see a man that has told
me all things of which I am destitute." Though
he could not give any correct account of the
manner in which the subject was treated, there
was one conclusion which he was enabled to
draw from the whole, and which penetrated too
deeply for him ever to forget, that he possessed
neither faith nor works which God could either
approve or accept.

In no previous instance had the hand of God
been so visible as in this ; and the state of the
subject of the memoir may be illustrated by that
of one of two persons shut up in a dark room,
where the other, having seen it by daylight, ex-
patiates to his fellow an hour or two on its
height, length, width, and form, the nakedness
and colour of the walls, with all its other pecu-
liarities. From the description given, aided by
his- blind attempts to feel his way into every
corner, and lay his hand upon every thing with-

30 THE VILLACF. BLACKSMITH.

in his reach, the hearer may be able to form
some conception of the apartment and situation
in which he stands. But it is easy to conceive
that a third person opening the door, and enter-
ing the room with a lighted taper in his hand,
would throw more light upon the subject in one
single moment, than a person of the highest de-
scriptive powers, through description alone,
could do in twelve hours. This, though not a
perfect illustration, is sufficient for the present
purpose: Samuel had heard preaching repeat-
edly ; a description of the moral condition of
man, of the new creature in Christ Jesus, of the
awful and glorious realities of an invisible world,
of every thing, in short, connected with man as
the subject of the moral government of God,
had been given in the discourses which he had
heard ; but through his own supineness, his
not asking for divine aid, or, if he asked, his
asking amiss, he remained in the " darkness"
of ignorance, error, and unbelief, without
" light" to guide him either in his conceptions,
his decisions, or his walk. He, however, who
commanded light to shine out of darkness, com-
manded it here to shine into darkness ; a pure
ray was shot from the Sun of righteousness,
illuminating all within. Samuel found the
" house" empty of all good, not swept of evil, nor
garnished with holiness. It was light which
produced a conviction, not so much of the pre-
sence of evil, as of the absence of good. He
saw that he was " poor'* and " naked," and had
till now been "blind;" but the negative cha-

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 31

racter of his conviction did not constitute him
"wretched" because of sin, or "miserable" be-
cause of the enormity of that sin. The flaming
sword was permitted to turn only in one direc-
tion ; other operations were apparently re-
strained, when the present had its full effect,
and the subject was more fully prepared for
their exercise. The Holy Spirit had been al-
ready in operation, softening and gently impress-
ing the heart, all preparatory to a farther work
of grace. There was fire, as has been previ-
ously stated ; but it was fire without flame, fire
smouldering under ashes, and consequently in-
capable of emitting the beneficial light. It was
now that the shades of night, in which he had
been so long enveloped, seemed to say, as the
angel said to Jacob, " Let us go, for the day
breaketh."

CHAPTER II.

He leaves his master before the expiration of his appren-
ticeship— Is providentially directed to a suitable situation,
and commences business for himself — His marriage — His
benevolence — Death of his wife's mether — Is alarmed by a
dream — Obtains mercy — Suddenness of his conversion — Its
fruits — His zeal — Answer to prayer, and effects of his ex-
postulation with a landlady — Summary of the evidence of
his conversion.

It has been quaintly, but significantly ob-
served, in reference to the providential lot of
human beings, that " every peg has its hole "

32 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

Whatever may have been the primary design of
the remark, it is certainly applicable to the no-
tions of personal comfort and probable useful-
ness ; the former effected by the adaptation of
the pin to the place and of the place to the pin,
and the latter by its projection, going beyond
itself, so to speak, affording an opportunity,
both to friends and strangers, of suspending
upon its form whatever they may desire, whe-
ther from inclination or necessity. And the
man who permits his .Maker to "choose" his
" inheritance" for him, will rarely be placed in a
situation in which it will be impossible for
some of his fellow-creatures to hang upon him
their hopes, their weaknesses, and their wants.
This will apply with equal propriety to persons
in humble life, as to persons in the more ele-
vated ranks of society. We are taught the doc-
trine of a wise and bountiful Providence in the
fall of a " sparrow," and in the adomings of
" the lilies," of a Providence which is both per-
missive and active in its operations, directing in
the outset, and entering into the minutest cir-
cumstances of human life. General observa-
tion would almost warrant the belief, that there
is a starting point for every man, later or earlier
in life, subject to his own choice : and in pro-
portion as he proceeds along the line, or devi-
ates from it, will be the amount of his success
or adversity, connecting with the situation, in
the person that holds it, industry, economy, and
integrity. The principal difficulty is in the
choice. Religiously to determine this, we ought

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 33

never to lose sight of the circumstances of the
case, personal competency, and general useful-
ness. Several of these remarks will apply to
the subject of this memoir.

Though Samuel had acted in the capacity of
a faithful servant to his master for some years,
a circumstance took place which led to a sepa-
ration before the expiration of his apprentice-
ship. His master's daughter had conceived an
attachment to him, which was returned, though
not to the same extent, by Samuel. This natu-
rally led to certain domestic attentions, in
which the young woman contributed to his
comforts ; and having a little money at com-
mand, she occasionally assisted him, with a
view to give strength to the bond which sub-
sisted. His master coming down stairs one
morning, a little earlier than usual, found him
seated with Miss Derby on his knee. He in-
stantly returned, and told his wife, whom he
had left in bed ; and after opening the circum-
stance, said, " I believe she is as fond of the
lad as ever a cow was of a calf." On again
descending the stairs, he chided them both, and
signified his disapprobation of all attachment.
The day passed on, with evident indications
that the master was brooding on the subject ;
and at length he ordered Samuel, with a good
deal of angry feeling, to leave his house and his
service. The dismissal having been given at
an evening hour, Samuel requested permission
to remain till the next day, which was granted.
To prevent any matrimonial connection from

3

31 THE \ II! \'.! I'!. \< Ks.MH it.

taking place between them, the father, on
Samuel's removal, contrived to form a union
between his daughter and a person of some
property, but much her senior, offering as an
inducement a handsome dowry. Miss I), wrote
to Samuel the day previous to her marriage, re-
questing him to meel her at a specified time
and place, pledging herself to him for ever, as
the sole object of her firs: affection. Poor
Samuel was placed in circumstances at the
time from which it was impossible to i scapi .
and the fitful moment glided away from both
without improvement, to their inexpressible
grief. As this was a compulsory measure, I
bride gave her hand without her heart ; her
spirits shortly afterward became depressed, and
confirmed insanity ensued. Samuel was sent
for by her friends — he obeyed the summons —
the sight of him increased her malady, and add-
ed to the poignancy of his own feelings — he
hastily withdrew — and she died soon after.
As an affair of ho?mur, it may be said, " In all
this" Samuel " sinned not." * Abandoned, how-
ever, as he was, by his master, the Lord di-
rected him by his providence.

Without giving the West Yorkshire dialect,
which he wrote as well as spoke, and which it
would be as difficult for persons in the southern

* Old Mrs. l)er!>y, who survived Samuel, and was living at
Healaugh, in 1831, Ln the 90th year of her age, was very
partial to him, always styling him, " Chir Sam ;" and Mr. D.,
on seeing hi<» daughter's distress, was heard to say, " O that
I had let Sammy have my lass !' Samuel paid occasional
to his oid nasties:; to the end of his days.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 35

counties of England to read and to understand,
without a glossary, as the " Lancashire dialect,"
the substance of his relation, when " entering
upon the world," to employ a familiar phrase,
is clear, simple, and touching. " When I was
one and twenty years of age," he states, "there
was a shop at liberty, at Micklefield, and my
father took it for me. I here began business
for myself; and when I had paid for my tools,
I was left without a penny in my pocket, or a
bit of bread to eat. But I was strong, in good
health, and laboured hard ; and that God who
sent the ravens to feed his servant, fed me.
One day, while at work, a man came into my
shop, who told me that his wife had fed the
pig so fat as to render it useless to the family,
and that he would sell me the one half of it very
cheap. I told him that I wished it were in my
power to make the purchase — that I was much
in need, but that I was without money. He
replied, he would trust me : and I agreed to
take it. I mentioned the circumstance to a
neighbour, who offered to lend me five pounds,
winch I accepted : and out of this I paid the
man for what I had bought. I continued to la-
bour hard, and the Lord, in his abundant good-
ness, supplied all my wants." From this it
would seem that he had not been anxiously
looking in every direction for a situation, and
that, on finding every providential door shut
had 'sat down to quarrel with the dispensations
of God, or made some hazardous attempts to
force an opening : nor was the situation at first

3o THE vi lITHt

eithei pereeived by himself, or the door — to pro-
d with the allusion — but Blightly turned up-
on its hinges, Leaving the possibility or propriety

of entrance still problematical. 1' was thrown
open by the hand that regulates; all human af-
fairs— circumstances invited the father to the
spot — he took his survey — Samuel, having been
released from his connection with his master,
found the occurrence seasonable — poverty v.
his portion, hut no capital was requisite for the
purchase of stock — previous industry and eco-
nomy prepared him to meet the expense ot
tools — his father led him up to the door which
his Maker had opened — labour was instantly
furnished, and the " daily bread," for which he
was commanded to pray, was supplied — the
confidence and kindness of friends encouraged
him to proceed — and there he continued, suc-
ceeded, and was afterward useful. Providence
appeared to meet him at every turn, and, as in
a piece of wedge-work, adapted its movements
to all the peculiarities of his case.

Alter having been established in business for
the space of eighteen months, without appa-
rently elevating his mind above the drudgery
of the day, he meditated a change in his do-
mestic circumstances. " The Lord/' he ob-
serves, " saw that I wanted a helpmeet" — he
knew the character that " would suit me best"
— and was so " kind" as to furnish me with
" one of his own choosing." From the form of
expression employed, it would seem that there
was an allusion to his first attachment, which

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 37

he might be led to consider as not of God, from
the circumstance of his having been thwarted
in his purpose. His courtship, in its com-
mencement and termination, preserves the sin-
gularity which distinguished most of the leading
transactions of his life. His partiality to sing-
ing led him to unite himself to the choir that
attended Aberford church, which union con-
tinued for the space of ten years. Here he
became acquainted with her who was destined
to be his bride, and to survive him as his wi-
dow. The first time he saw her, which was
during divine service, it was powerfully im-
pressed upon his mind that she would one day
become his wife. Under such impression, and
in great simplicity, he walked up to her imme-
diately on leaving the church, and unbosomed
his feelings and thoughts on the subject. She
heard his first lispings with surprise, and felt
their force ; for from that period they delighted
in each other's society, and were finally united
in holy matrimony in SpofTord church. She
was six years older than himself. On leaving
the hymeneal altar, and reaching the church
door, a number of poor widows pressed around
him to solicit alms. His heart was touched ;
the tear was in his eye ; " I began the world,"
said he to himself, " without money, and I will
again begin it straight:' The thought was no
sooner conceived, and the generous impulse
felt, than the hand, which emptied the pocket,
scattered the last pence of which he was pos-
sessed among the craving applicants. The

38 Tin: VILLAGE BLACK8MITR.

bride being entitled to Bome property, and work
pouring in upon him, his exhausted stores were
soon recruited : and believing that a blessing
followed the donation; he appended to a narra-
tive of the event, in a tone of triumph, " The
Lord gave me a good wife, and 1 have never
wanted money since that day."

The line glow of devotional feeling occasion-
ally experienced in his vonth, had for some
time become extinct ; and he had not in his
present situation been brought into contact with
any decidedly religious character to revive it,
except the mother of his wife, who was a member
of the Wesleyan connection. He complained
that at this period his wife and himself were
"both strangers to saving grace" — that "the
parish" could not boast of a single Methodist,
and that there was not "one" of his "own
family that knew the Lord." His mother-in-
law, who, it. would seem, did not reside in the
same parish with himself, often spoke to him on
the subject of religion, and interceded with God
both for him and his partner. Example, ex-
hortation, and prayer were ineffectual. The
appeal was to be made to the passions; and
through these was the entrance to be made,
which would effect his deliverance from the
thraldom of Satan. His mother-in-law sickened
and died. The happiness she experienced in
her last hours softened the heart, and reawak-
ened the attention of Samuel to the concerns of
his soul. This however, hut for what he de-

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 39

nominated a " vision," had been " as the early
dew that passeth away."

Three days after her dissolution, he dreamed
that she appeared to him arrayed in white, took
him by the hand, and affectionately warned
him to flee from the wrath to come ; stating,
that if he did not repent he would never meet
her in the paradise of God. At the close of
the address, the visionary form vanished ; con-
viction, while he slumbered, seized his spirit ;
he awoke in terror, and, to use his own lan-
guage, "jumped out of bed," thus furnishing
another exposition of the language of the " man
in the land of Uz,"— " When I say, My bed
shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my com-
plaint ; then thou scarest me with dreams, and
terrifiest me through visions." This sudden
spring from the bed roused his wife : his groans
and distress alarmed her ; and supposing him
to have been suddenly seized with some com-
plaint that threatened his life, she was proceed-
ing to awaken the neighbours, and to call them
to her assistance, when she was arrested in her
course, in the midst of the darkness with which
she was surrounded, with a sentence wrung
from the depths of his agonized spirit, and ut-
tered in sobs : " I want Jesus— Jesus, to pardon
all my sins." It was sufficient for her to know
that he was not in immediate danger from
affliction ; her fears were therefore quickly dis-
sipated, but she could afford him no consola-
tion. This he seemed to feel, and observed,
" I had no Paul to say to me, ' Believe on the

40 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shah he saved;
nor any praying wife lo pray tor me." It was
the midnight of desolation ; and the only light

by which the way of mercy could be discovered,
was from within. The flood of day which was
poured upon his mind waa as strong as it was
sudden : and differing in degree from that with
which he was visited under the ministry of .Mr.
Wesley, he now beheld hoth sides of his case,
not only the absence of all good, but \\ic presence
of real evil. w My eyes," said he, " were
opened — I saw all the sins I had committed
through the whole course of mv life — I was

■

like the psalmist— 1 cried out like the jailer/'
He added with considerable emphasis, li I did
say my prayers,'* continuing, " as 1 never did
before ;'* meaning that he had only said them
previously to this period. lie further observed
that it might have been said of him, as of Saul,
" Behold he prayetli."

The ministerial instruction which he had at
different periods received, led him, in the midst
of much ignorance on other subjects, to adopt
the proper means, and to look to the true source
of happiness, in order to its attainment. He
had heard of one Jesus of Nazareth, like Saul ;
and though that Jesus had not before been ex-
perimentally revealed to him, yet such was the
nature of the light which he received, that it
enabled him to recognise in Hm from whom it
proceeded the face of a Saviour, and a Friend.
The Sun of righteousness, like the orb of day,
discovers himself hy his own shining. It is in

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 41

his light that we see light. Samuel was in the
light, in the midst of natural darkness ; and
though he could not hear the prayers of a wife,
he had confidence in the intercession of a Sa-
viour. "Jesus," said he, "was my advocate;
I put in my case, and he pleaded for me before
the throne of God. I believed that the blood
of Christ was shed for me ; and the moment I
believed, I found peace. I could adopt the Ian-
guage of the poet : —

' My God is reconciled,

His pard'ning voice I hear ;
He owns me for his child,

I can no longer fear;
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And, Father, Abba, Father, cry.' "

His state, as an inhabitant of the natural
world, afforded a fair exemplification of the
change through which he passed. He reposed
himself in darkness— lay in that darkness, like
the dead in the tomb— and was passing through
this insensible state to the light of another day.
On the same evening, as a sinner before his
God, he lay down in the darkness of a deeper
night than that which veils the face of nature —
was the subject of a more terrible death than
that of which sleep is but the image— awoke in
spiritual light — and was, ere the natural light
broke upon his eye, enabled to exult in the
dawn of a fairer morning than ever beamed up-
on our earth — a morning which can only be
surpassed by the morning of the resurrection,
when the just shall kindle into life at the sight

42 Tin: village blacksmith.

of the Sun of righteousness, to which this
through the vivifying rays of ihc same Sun,
formed the happy prelude. Spiritual life suc-
ceeded spiritual li<:ht. To object to the genuine'
nessoi the work, because of its suddenness^ would
be to plead a ■ needs I"" for our continuance in
a state of comparative darkness, danger, misery,
and death, in opposition to the end proposed by
the scheme of human redemption through Jesus
Christ, which was to complete our deliverance
from such a state — would be to prescribe limits
to the power, goodness, and purity of " the
Holy One of Israel," as though he were unable
to effect such a change but by degrees, unwill-
ing at once to soothe our sorrows, and approv-
ing of our continuance in a state of moral defile-
ment— would be to doubt the veracity of the
Holy Ghost, in his statements of the sudden
illumination of Saul, the sudden conviction of
the multitude under the preaching of Peter, and
the instantaneous pardon of the penitent thief —
and would, finally, be to obstruct the course of
our obedience, in compliance with all the ex-
hortations which urge us, and all the injunctions
which bind us to an immediate preparation for
another state of being, as well as needlesslv
expose us, through sudden death, to the " bitter
pains" of death eternal.

But the doctrine of sudden conversion is be-
coming every day less objectionable ; and the
" holy ground" on which that conversion takes
place, is not barely visited by the hymning
seraphs of the Christian Church, who chant iheji

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 43

songs within the sacred enclosure, but is re-
spected and honoured by some of our first epic
poets from without, through whose pen the
ground has at length become poetically classic-
al.* Thus, in " The Poet's Pilgrimage to
Waterloo," the author, in his moments of
vision, after tasting the tree of knowledge,
sings : —

" In awe I heard, and trembled, and obey'd ;

The bitterness was even as of death ;
[ felt a cold and piercing thrill pervade

My loosen'd limbs, and losing sight and breath,
To earth I shoidd have fallen in despair,
Had I not clasp'd the cross, and been supported there.

* My heart, I thought, was bursting with the force
Of that most fatal fruit ; soul-sick I felt,
And tears ran down in such continuous course
As if the very eyes themselves should melt ■
But then I heard my heavenly Teacher say,
1 Drink, and this mortal stound shall pass away.*

1 1 stoop'd and drank of that divinest well,
Fresh from the Rock of ages where it ran.
It had a heavenly quality to quell

My pain : — 1 rose a renovated man,
And would not now, when that relief was known,
For worlds the needful suffering have foregone."

These sentiments, though highly poetical, take
their root in fact, and owe their beauty and
their excellence to truth, of which they are the
fictitious representatives. The deep distress,
the heart-sickness referred to, would, by a sim-
ple-hearted Christian, be styled deep conviction
for sin, or the pains of repentance antecedent to

* See the writer's Letter to Dr. Southey, Poet Laureate
on the Life of Mr. Wesley

44 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

pardon; by a philosopher, a species of religious
madness. The passing away of the u mortal
Stound" would he contemplated under the notion
of peace of mind, after the penitent had by faith

" clasped t In- cross," or rather the Crucified. The
brief spare of time allotted lor the whole would
at once entitle the work to the general appella-
tion of sudden conversion : for the poet had only
to stoop — to drink — to rise, and to rise too a
renovated num. This hears such a striking
analogy to the case of the sin-sick village
blacksmith, whose personal history is passing
in review — who knelt in distress before his
God — implored mercy — and rose renewed and
happy — that the poet, had he known the fact,
could scarcely have been more felicitous in its
illustration.

So fully satisfied was Samuel himself of the
genuineness of the work, that he frequently, in
after life, when dwelling upon his religious
views and feelings, recurred to the very " flag'"
on which he knelt, and where he remained as
he had risen from his couch, unannoyed by the
cold, till he experienced peace with God. Xo
sooner was he put in possession of the " pearl
of great price," than he waited with the anxiety
of the watchman for the morning, to be delivered
from a situation which had become burdensome
through overwrought joy, — a joy which could
only find relief in the hearts of others — hearts
ready, as the recipients of its overflowings, to
share in its fulness. Bui where were hearts to
be found to become the receptacles of such joy 7

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 45

It was not for him to say, with the psalmist,
" Come and hear, ail ye that fear God, and I
will declare what he hath done for my soul ;"
or, " I will declare thy name unto my brethren:
in' the midst of the congregation I will praise
ihee." Though congregations were not remote,
yet there were no brethren with whom he could
claim religious affinity, none that feared God,
with whom he was acquainted. He resolved,
therefore, to proclaim the goodness of God to
his " neighbours ;" and like Melancthon, to
whom truth appeared at first so simple, and yet
so forcible, that he instantly calculated on the
conquest of others, but had soon to complain
that old Adam was too strong for young Me-
lancthon, Samuel — and the thought has haunted
many beside these, both learned and illiterate —
contemplated nothing short of the sudden con-
version of every person in the neighbourhood.
" I thought," he remarked, " I could make all
the world believe, when day-light appeared. I
went to my neighbours, for I loved my neigh-
bour as myself. I wished them all to experi-
ence what I felt. The first that I went to was
a landlady. I told her what the Lord had done
for me ; and that what he had done for me he
could do for her, exhorting her to pray and be-
lieve." This was no new language to the ear
into which it was poured, for the woman seemed
to know to what source it was traceable.
" What," she retorted, " have you become a
Methodist ? You were a good neighbour, and
a good man before ; and why change ? The

46 J ill. \ lU.A'.l. BLAI K81II 1 11.

Methodists arr a set of rogues, and you will
50011 lie like them." Samuel, who was at K
guiltless of Methodism, had too important a sub-
ject in hand to spend his time in disclaiming
his brotherhood, and therefi ntinued to pr<

upon her attention the necessity of personal re-
ligion, telling her, if her "sins" were "not par-
doned," it would be impossible for her to go " to
heaven."' Unprepared lor such service, partly
from the early hour, partly from the personal
nature of the discourse, but more espi cially
from the character of the preacher, who, only
the day before, had given so little promise of
any thing of the kind, she became indignant,
and in her ire turned him out of the house, in
which he might have remained till evening, re-
ducing himself, by intoxication, beneath a level
with the brute creation. Fiery as was his zeal
for her salvation, he received the requital of his
good intentions with meekness ; and instead of
repining at the rebuff, retired to a field, and
poured out his soul in prayer to God on her be-
half. He had just been favoured with a proof
of the efficacy of prayer in his own case ; and
the simple thought that " what God had done
for himself lie could do for others,'' so fully oc-
cupied his mind, that, in its strength and simpli-
city, he was led on from one part of prayer
to another — from confession^ supplication, and
thanksgiving, in reference to himself, to that of
intercession for those around. The fire of di-
vine love burned upon the altar of his heart, faith
was in exercise, hope was on the wing, every

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 4i

feeling, though infantile, was strong — he again
returned to the contest, but what a change !
" To my surprise," he observed, " when I went
back she was crying in the doorslead. She
asked me to forgive her. ' 0 yes, that I will,' I
said ; and if you will let me go in, and pray
with yon, the Lord will forgive you too." His
words and his manner, when the woman was
left to herself, had been the subject of reflec-
tion ; and, from the impression made, she rea-
dily 'acceded to the proposal. " She took me,"
continued he, " into a room ; and there I prayed
for her. It was not long before the Lord blessed
her ; and he thus gave me the first soul I asked
for. He can do a great work in a little time.
She lived and died happy. Tftis encouraged
me to go on in the duty of prayer."

If an inward renewal is known by its effects,
the tree by its fruit, the evidence of Samuel
Hick's conversion to God is not less certain
than if it had been less sudden. He had em-
ployed the means, prayer and faith, instituted
by God himself for the attainment of his fa-
vour— he experienced joy in the Holy Ghost
through believing, having been made a partaker
of " solvation;" and being " upheld with" God's
"free Spirit," he immediately began, in primi-
tive style, to " teach transgressors" the " ways"
of righteousness, and a " sinner" was " con-
verted" to the truth. The temper of mind which
he manifested under opposition, his readiness
to forgive, the constraining influence of the love
'which he felt, the persevering quality of the

48 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

principle by which he was actuated, his joy

over a sinner repenting, only to be compared
with that possessed by ang< lie beings, all, all
are indications ol one of whom it might be said,
" I >ld things are passed away : behold all things
are become new." Add to this, every part of
his personal history, from this time to the hour
of his death, is confirmatory of Christian cha-
racter. While a career of between forty and
fifty years of Christian usefulness, connected
with a strictly moral conduct, renders it impro-
bable that he should, for such a length of time,
impose upon others ; his views of his state and
of his services, and his abhorrence of sin,
authorize the belief that there was no deception
practised upon himself. It was not a state of
mere improved feeling, not th \ whitewash of
pharisaism ; the change entered the grain of
the man, turning him inside out to others, to
whom any thing in the shape of guile was invi-
sible, and outside in upon himself, while he de-
clared, from the internal and external evidence
which a depraved nature and a previously sin-
fid life had furnished, that he had been " as big
a heathen as any of the natives of Ceylon,"
having " had gods many, and lords many ;" but
that "the Lord, when he awakened" his "soul,
enabled" him " to cut them ofl* at a stroke."
He reasoned not with ilesh and blood ; he spared
no Agag, he reserved no sin.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 49

CHAPTER III.

He seeks church fellowship — Advises with a pious clergy
man, with whom he meets in hand — Unites himself, on the
clergyman's leaving the neighbouihood, to the Wesleyan
Methodists — The kind of preaching under which he profited
— Society at Sturton Grange — A revival of religion — Two
colliers rendered extensively useful — A solitary harn the re-
sort of the devout — Samuel's distress on account of indwell-
ing sin, and his deliverance from it — Singular occurrence —
Deep distress compatible with a state of justification.

Man, who was originally formed for society,
and furnished with its felicities in paradise,
carries with him into every climate, and into
all circumstances, those elements which, when
properly improved and directed, not only fit hiin
for social life, but render him restless without
it, as well as inspire him with a solicitude for
its blessings. A few solitary hermitical and
misanthropic exceptions, or an occasional wish
for " wings like a dove," to " fly away" from
its bustle, in order to " be at rest," are not to be
adduced as arguments against the general prin-
ciple ; for even among those who are most par-
tial to retirement, who are least in love with the
world of beings around them, and who, in oppo-
sition to the designs of God in helping man by
man, convert themselves into misers' treasure, a
kind of moral and intellectual cash, hoarded up
in the safe of a monastery or a nunnery, useless
to such as are most in need of their aid, and
whose wants might be essentially relieved by
an expenditure of their time and of their talents;
even among these the love of society is inhe-

4

50 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

rent, and is manifested by their institutions
where groups arc permitted to dwell and mingle

with each Other, if not as the nun itself, as the

misers of Christianity. This love of society is
not destroyed, but regulated and strengthened
by religion ; and by no one is it more needed,
or more ardently desired, than by a person
newly " found in" Christ. The notion of
" going to heaven alone," of preserving our
religion a " secret" — which, by the way, be-
longs only to those who have no religion to ex-
hibit— is instantly annihilated on the reception
of pardon. The charm of secrecy is broken,
and why ? There is now " something to s<n/"
— subject matter for conversation. "A new
song" is put into the " mouth," and it must be
sung ; a " morsel" has been received, and it
cannot be eaten " alone." Nor is the wish to
communicate confined barely to a person's en-
trance on the divine life ; " it grows with his
growth." "They that feared the Lord spake
often one to another."

Samuel, who was in danger of casting his
"pearls before swine* and who had confounded
attempts at usefulness with " the communion of
saints," was instinctively led to seek the latter
from the nature of his own wants. " I was at
a sad loss," says he, " for church fellowship,
there being no society near." This " loss3*
could not allude to any privation of privilege,
with the enjoyment of which he had been pre-
viously favoured; for no such enjoyment had
been known. The want was created with the

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 51

character which he now sustained. It was the
want of a child — himself being only a babe in
Christ — looking for some one to guide and sup-
port his steps ; the want of another regimen
than that to which he had been accustomed —
of other food for the support of a new life. His
connection with the Methodists, as a hearer,
whether occasional or constant, seems to have
broken off with his servitude at Healaugh ; and
no persons of that persuasion being near, a
closer connection could not be immediately and
conveniently renewed. Having been accus-
tomed to attend the service of the Established
Church, after his residence at Micklefield, he
naturally looked to its members for communion.
The light, however, which he had received,
was sufficiently discriminative in its character
to guide him to the right spot. Instead of
" wending his way" to Aberford, where he had
distinguished himself as a chorister, he pro-
ceeded with the infallibility of instinct to Led-
sham, and with great simplicity solicited an in-
terview with the resident clergyman. " I asked
him," he remarks, " what I should do ; and he
told me to call on him the next Lord's day
morning, when he would advise with me." He
accordingly repaired to the house at the time
appointed, and was cordially received, as well
as religiously instructed. Samuel's testimony
of him — because the testimony of experience — is
of more value, in an evangelical point of view,
than the highest panegyric from the pen of a
lterary nominal professor of Christianity. It

52 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

is the lisping of childhood, aa yet unaccustomed
to artifice. " He was a very good man, and
preached the gospel. I went to Ledsham

some time ; hut he was at length obliged to
leave, for his salary would not keep him.
Then 1 was at a loss for my band-mate." The

last expression, the lull import of which can
only he known and felt by persons enjoying the
sweets of Christian fellowship, shows the ten-
derness, the condescension, the solicitude, the
sympathies of this ecclesiastic — the Village
Patriarch stooping from his dignity, and tak-
ing, as a band-mate, " sweet counsel with the
Village Blacksmith !*

* Ledsham is the village, [in which stands the church] in
which the late Rev. Walter Sellon, who was vicar of the
parish, lived and died; and Ledstone Hall, at no great dis-
tance from it, is the place where the renowned Lady Betty
Hastings also resided, and finally resigned her soul into the
bands of her God. The clergyman, of whom Samuel speaks,
is supposed to have been Mr. Wigbtman, who was curate to
Mi. Sellon; the former a Calvinist, and the latter an Armin-
ian in creed ; and though salary might have its share of influ-
ence in the question of removal, it is strongly suspected that
doctrinal sentiments aided in turning the scale. Mr. Sellon
was a sturdy supporter of the doctrine of general redemp-
tion, and fought some hard battles in early life againsl the
Calvinistic view of the subject, under the auspices of Mr.
Wesley ; but toward the close of Mr. Wesley's pilgrim!
Mr. Sellon manifested a degree of coldness toward his old
friend. In a manuscript correspondence of Mr. Wesley with
Mr. Sellon, in the possession of the writer, it appears that
the warmth of friendship began to subside when Mr. Sellon
resided at Ashby-do-la-Zoueh. From 1772 to 1784, there is
a chasm in the correspondence. Up to the former period,
Mr. Wesley's addn ss was, "Pear Walter," with all the fa-
miliarity of close friendship : but on Mr. Sellou's residence
at Ledsham, at which place he lived during the latter period,
the address was altered to " Dear Sir," one of the letters
Concluding with, " You used lo meet me when I came near

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 53

This was a gracious providence to Samuel,
through which he was enabled, in the child-
hood of his Christianity, to acquire strength ;
and but for which he might have found it diffi-
cult to walk alone. He had not long, however,
to bemoan his bereavement. The Lord, on re-
moving one stay, speedily supplied its place
with another. It was with Samuel, therefore,
as with the child, a change of nurses, rather
than a privation, or even a serious suspension
of the kindly offices requisite for the support
and guidance of his weakness and inexperience.
" The Lord," he observed, " sent Mr. Wade to
Sturton Grange, where they took in the preach-
ers, and had a society. As I felt my want of
church fellowship, I went to ask them to take
me into society. They offered to take me on
trial ; and I continued a member till we got a
society in our own place, which was not long,
for I never let them alone." He had an ardent
desire for the salvation of sinners ; and his not
letting them alone refers as much to his conver-

you ; but you seem of late years to have forgotten your old
friend and brother, John Wesley." Among the manuscript
letters referred to, are some curious epistolary specimens
written by Mr. Charles Wesley to Mr. Sellon ; also some
rare ones, addressed to the same person, from the Rev.
Messrs. J. Fletcher, Vin. Perronet, E. Perronet, Sir Richard
Hill, and the Countess of Huntingdon — all tending to throw-
light on the controversies and passing events of the times —
which another occasion may render it proper to present to
the public. How long Mr. Sellon remained at Ledsham,the
writer is unable at present to ascertain ; but it is probable,
from the Wesleyan Meth. Mag. for 1918, p. 53, that he was
either in the village or its immediate vicinity, in a state of
great affliction, in 1790 and 1791.

54 Tin: VILLAGE BLACKSMITH,

sational efforts to reclaim his neighbours, as to
any request that a portion of the privileges of
the society to which ho had united himself,
which was little more than a mile distant,
should be transferred to Micklefield. Thus,
adverting to his situation to promote the reli-
ma welfare of others, he remarks, " I had a
od opportunity, as nearly the whole town
cime to my shop; and I was always at them.
I found my share of persecution ; but this did
not daunt me, nor prevent me from calling on
sinners to repent, believe, and be converted."

It was not barely by reproof and exhortation
that he Sought to multiply the number of travel-
lers to Zion, but also by earnest and affection-
ate invitation. The first fruit of this description
of labour — labour which has been extremely
productive in a variety of instances — was a
wealthy agriculturist. ,; Mr. Thomas Taylor,"
said he, " came to preach at Sturton Grange, and
I invited all I could to go and hear him. One
of these was Mr. Rhodes,* a lar^e farmer, who
lived in the parish : and who said if I would
call upon him he would go with me. Blessed
be the Lord! on the same night the gospel
proved the power of God to his salvation. I
remember the text; it referred to the tares and
the wheat. The tares were gathered and lied

* In a letter from Mr. Dawson, dated April 3d, 1 830, re-
ferring to Mr. Rhodes, lie observes, -'lie is still living at
Micklefield. I saw him yesterday, lie is nearly blind, and
his constitution is fast breaking up. He will not survive
Samuel long. The Methodists always preached, and still
preach at his house "

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 55

into bundles. There was a bundle of sabbath-
breakers, a bundle of swearers, &c. These
bundles were to be burned ; and before the ser-
mon was finished, the preacher got Mr. Rhodes
bound up in one of them. From that time the
Lord added to our number ; we got preaching
to our place, and soon had a class-meeting.''
This, it should seem, from a reference to the
Minutes of Conference, was either in the year
1785, or 1786, when Mr. Taylor was stationed
in the Leeds circuit. Such preaching was as
much calculated to instruct the uneducated
mind of Samuel, as it was to arrest the atten-
tion of the farmer. Keach would have been a
superior preacher in his estimation to Saurin,
and he would have profited more by the meta-
phors of the one, than by the sermons of the other.
He could fasten upon some of the more promi-
nent parts of a highly figurative discourse, and
turn them to good personal and practical ac-
count ; but would have been in danger of run-
ning wild with the remainder. He knew much
better when to commence, than how to proceed,
or where to close.

But it was not in criticism that, he was
skilled ; nor was it into the niceties of Christian
doctrine that he could enter. He knew the
truth much better in its operation on the heart,
than in its shinings on the understanding ; and
could tell much better how it felt, than in what
position and connection it stood. He seemed
to possess the faculty in religion, which some
blind people are said to possess, in a rare de-

56 THE VILLAGE BLACK8MITH.

gree, in reference to colours ; ;i faculty of de-
scribing it by the touch ; for scarcely any thing
advanced amounted with him to truth, unless it
fell with power upon his heart. lie had re-
ceived the doctrine of justification as an experi-
mental truth, though utterly unable, in puritanic
style, to enter into a detail of its moving, m<r>-
torious, remote, immediate^ and instrumental
causes ; and this led to another doctrine equally
momentous ; a doctrine of experience, no less
than of theory ; the sanctificationoiih* heart to
God. " After he had enjoyed the blessing of
conscious pardon," says Mr. Dawson, "he di>-
covered that there was a higher state of grace
to be attained ; that such state was purchased
for him by the blood of Jesus Christ ; and was
to be applied to his soul by the Holy Ghost,
through faith. This he sought in the way
which God appointed, and found the promise
realized. ' Every one that asketh receiveth ;
and he that seeketh findeth ; and to him that
knocketh it shall be opened.' He was enabled
to believe for a higher enjoyment of divine love,
and from the hour he believed, obtained a richer
measure of it, through which he was empow-
ered to ' rejoice evermore ; pray without ceas-
ing ; in every thing give thanks.' "

This farther change was wrought in his soul
in the year 1794, and the following are some
of the circumstances connected with its attain-
ment. "About this time, (1794,)" he observes,
" there was a great revival of the work of God
at Sturton Grange, near Mjckh field. The meet-

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 57

ings were held in Rig Lair* Some hundreds
of souls were converted to God, and many were
sanctified. I was one of the happy number,
not only convinced of the necessity of Christian
holiness, but who, blessed be the Lord ! proved
for myself, that the blood of Christ cleanseth
from sin." Mr. Dawson, in adverting to this
extraordinary work of God, in connection with
Samuel's progress in religion, states that " there
was an extraordinary outpouring of the Spirit
upon nearly the whole of Yorkshire, and that it
was most remarkably felt in the neighbourhood
of Micklefield. At a solitary barn," continues
he, " which stands on a farm belonging to Mr.
Wade, at Sturton, near the Roman road leading
from Castleford to Aberford, a prayer meeting
was held every Sunday morning and Monday
evening. These meetings were especially
owned of God. The glory of the Lord filled
the place, and the power of God was present to
wound and to heal, to kill and to make alive.
Two colliers,! men who gave themselves to
prayer, were very successful instruments in the
hand of the Lord in the conversion of scores,
if not hundreds of persons, in the course of the
summer. Our late brother Hick took his full
share in the work, and experienced a full share

* Lair— a BARxV, in the west of Yorkshire.

f One of these men was supported by the bounty of the late
Mr Broadhurst, of Swinton, for the sole purpose of enabling
him to devote his time to the visitation ot the sick &c, and
died lately at Manchester, where he had resided several
years. His brother William, the other person alluded to,
married a person belonging to Pollington, a village about
three miles from Snaith, Yorkshire, where he continued

58 Till: VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

of the glory. Sabbath after sabbath the barn
was filled with people ; the cries of penitence
were heard in different places, and were fre-
quently succeeded by songs of praise. The
colliers were invited to the neighbouring vil-
lages, whither friend Hick accompanied them
in their work of faith and labour of love. Often
has he been heard to relate the conquests of
redeeming love, as witnessed in these journeys,
from which he frequently returned home re-
joicing— rejoicing more than earthly conquerors
when they find great spoil."

Under the general influence referred to,
Samuel was led, as stated above, to seek a far-
ther work of orrace. At the midnight hour he
retired to this " ham" whose solitude was deep-
ened by the season, for private devotion. He
bowed the knee in one of its unfrequented nooks ;
but before he had proceeded to oiler a petition
to God whom alone he supposed to be present,
he heard the voice of prayer in an opposite
corner. He paused ; he listened ; the shadow!
of night had fallen too thickly around to permit
him to see any one. Unexpected as it was, it
was the voice of melody to Ids ear : still he lis-
tened, and at length he recognised the voice of
Praying George, one of the colliers, who w

useful as an extorter and class-leader for u consideralih-
length of time — ended his days in peace, about five yean
ago — and left a widow and two or three children. They
received the appellation of the " Praying Co//iVrs." The
one who resided in Manchester, and who was personally
known to the writer, was generally designated by the title
of " Praying Gc-m Their proper name — the one by

which they were least known — was Mosely.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 59

wrestling, like Jacob, repeating again and again,
" Lord, wash my heart ; Lord, wash my heart ;"
adding emphasis to each repetition— elevating
his voice as he rose in fervour — but as little
suspecting that he was heard by a fellow crea-
ture, as Samuel did that he should find any
one 'in the place at such an hour. He soon
gave the response to George's prayer, who, in
his turn, was surprised to find that Samuel had
stolen into the place for the same purpose.
They mingled their petitions and spirits to-
gether, and increased each other's ardour. " I
Thought," said Samuel, "if the Lord could
wash George's heart, he could also wash mine ;
and I was° fully convinced that if George's
heart wanted washing, mine required it much
more ; for I considered him far before me in
divine grace." He proceeded from the very
first on the principle, that " God is no respecter
of persons," and that, from the immutability of
his nature, the same power and goodness exer-
cised in one case could, and really would, be exer-
cised in another, where a compliance with the
means proposed to attain the end was observed.
He experienced much of the presence of
God in prayer, but no satisfactory evidence of
the blessing which he sought. Having in all
probability remained in the same position for a
great length of time, and having been earnest
in his pleadings, he was so affected and en-
feebled when he rose, that he was unable to
stand erect, and was obliged, as he expressed
himself, to " walk home almost double." On

60 THK VIM. ACT. BLACK8MITH«

passing along one of the fields, he heard a sud-
den and " mighty rush" over his head, as he
termed it, the sound of which he compared to a
large covey of " pigeons," sweeping the air
with their wings. Being partially bent toward
the ground, and the morning light not having
dawned upon the earth, he was unable to per
ceive any thing, had any appearance been vi-
sible. He started — but all was gone in an
instant. Having just come from the spot win
he had been holding converse with God, and
linked as he was in spirit to the invisible world,
it was natural for him — whatever become? of
either the rationality or the Christianity of the
act — to direct his thoughts thither; and the
sound had but just passed, when it occurred to
him, " This is the prince of the power of the
air." On reaching home, he named the cir-
cumstance to his wile, who was still more
struck with it. when, on having occasion to go
into the (ields some hours afterward to milk the
cows, she heard the same noise as described
by Samuel, but saw nothing from whence it
could proceed.*

Instead of retiring to rest, he spent the whole
of the morning in private prayer : and such was

* Though no anxiety is felt by the writer for his credit ^s
nu author, in giving publicity to this circumstance ; and
though he has no particular wish to give a supernatural cha-
racter to it, he would, nevertheless, lend an attentive ear to
the solution of a few difficulties with which the subject is
involved. The sound was heard by two peramts at distinct
periods ; no appearance was visible in either case ; the sound
was like that of birds upon the wing : — the hovruxu unseason-
able, in the first instance, for any birds to lit abroad, exoppl

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 61

his distress — being, as be forcibly expressed
himself, " under deep conviction for holiness,''
—that he could " neither eat, sleep, nor work."
He continues, " I went mourning and pleading
the whole of that day and of that night, but
could find no rest to my soul. The next morn-
ing, about eight o'clock, I knelt me down upon
the same flag on which God had pardoned my
sins : and while I was pleading his promises,
faith sprung up in my heart ; I found that the
blood of Christ did indeed cleanse me from all
sin. I immediately- leaped up from my knees.
I seemed to have gotten both a new body and a
new soul. The former appeared like cork
wood, it was so light. I was clear in my sanc-
tification. It was received by faith in Christ.
All was joy, peace, and love. My soul was
constantly mounting in a chariot of fire ; the
world and the devil were under my feet."

The martyrdom of spirit which Samuel expe-
rienced on the death of the depravity of his na-
ture, can only be understood by those who have
suffered on the same rack ; and there are not a
few who have suffered more because of indwell-
" ing sin, than under conviction of its enormity
and punishment, as was evidently the case with

the owl ; — in the second instance the night-bird must have
disappeared ;— and what might have been invisible to
Samuel, through the darkness of the hour, ought to have
been seen by his wife in the morning light ; — and on the sup-
position that the imagination of the former might have been
a little affected, still ihe case of the latter— a person of a
much cooler temperament, and one who had not been pass-
ing through the same nocturnal process— preserves the whole
in its native force.

62

THE VILLA(ii; BLACKSMITH.

the subject of this memoir. It is not difficult to
explain this, except to the ''natural man/' to
whom every experimental subject is mysterious.
But to the purely enlightened it is well known
that the discipline experienced in the school of
repentance, in which the "heavy-laden" sinner
" labours" under an oppressive burden prior to
his entering into " rest"— into that first or pre-
paratory state of repose consequent on his justi-
fication or discharge from guilt — is occasionally
less severe than the discipline which is after-
wards exercised in the school of Christ— into
which school the penitent enters immediately
on the reception of pardon, and in which, prior
to his reception of what the poet styles " that
second rest," he is taught to " learn* of Him who
was " meek and lowly in heart," and while un-
der his tuition, has, even in that state, to bend
the neck of his spirit to the "yoke" which his
divine Teacher imposes. Human nature is not
made of sufficiently tractable materials— has
been too long accustomed to an improper bias,
to sit composed under the restraints of such a
yoke, or instantly to yield to its forms. The
workman called '-the old man," is hostile to all
the works of " the new man:" and will not su-
pinely give up his possessions. On the justifi-
cation of a sinner, peace, sweet peace, falls
upon the soul with the softness of {lakes of
snow ; and to persons in an imaginative mood,
it is as easy — barring the coldness of the meta-
phor—to perceive the soul beautifully covered
with it. and shining in its external whiteness :

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 63

but in the sanctification of the spirit, the work
goes deeper than the soul's surface. And, to
change the metaphor, it is not till after a per-
son's justification, that God takes the lid from
off the top of the sepulchre of the human heart,
and unfolds to view its hidden filth — the be-
holder, like an unamiable being looking at. him-
self in a mirror, being startled at his own ap-
pearance. The pain experienced in both states,
though severe, differs in its character, because
produced by widely different causes. Actual
transgression is the immediate cause of peniten-
tial distress, and innate depravity that of a be-
liever's grief—the one finding relief in an act of
pardoning mercy, and the other in a work of
purifying grace ; or in other words, both in the
death of Jesus Christ, through the merit of
whose blood the guilt of sin is cancelled, and by
the virtue of whose blood the pollution of the
soul is cleansed ; and the taint, if such an ex-
pression may be allowed, is as painful and
odious to the enlightened mind as is its guilt to
the awakened conscience. To the woodman
who wishes to eradicate, to have the ground
perfectly clear, it is as mortifying to have the
roots left in the earth, as to see the tree stand-
ing ; and having cleft the one, he is the more
solicitous to have the other plucked up, not
only that he may not lose what he has already
wrought, but that he may prevent its again
shooting upward, and by farther growth pro-
ducing still more pernicious fruit. While the
misery of a penitent is to be found in the accu-

64 THE (TILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

sations of a guilty conscience, followed up' by

awful forebodings of M wrath to com.'." the be-
liever's distress arises from a fear of falling— an
inward abhorrence of every thing rising in the
soul incompatible with unsullied purity — an
anxious desire after a full conformity to the di-
vine image — an exquisitely constituted con-
science, which is as tender to the touch as the
apple of the eye — the consciousness of still
possessing a heart prone to wander from the
living God, and of a nature upon which tempta-
tion, without great watchfulness, may still ope-
rate to the ruin of the soul — a keener insight
into the spirituality of the sacred law — a quick -
sightedness and frequent anticipations of danger
— the whole working the mind into a state°of
earnestness and of agony to he " freed from the
yoke of inbred sin." In the latter state there
is no sense of guilt, nor. consequently of the
divine displeasure, and therefore no' fear of
punishment; yet there is a continual loathing
of self — " war in the members*' — dving to live!
All this appears to have been known^and felt
by Samuel Hick, whose own statement leads to
the conclusion, that he suffered much more as
a believer than as a penitent, through the union
of which two characters the man of God is made
perfect.

After he had risen from his favourite " flag,"
for which he entertained a kind of superstitious
respect, and which was now rendered " doubly
dear," he walked forth some time in brightness
The blessing of purity, which he had received

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 65

was never lost through actual transgression ,
and although he was twice in a state of deep
distress respecting its evidence, it was soon re-
gained by the exercise of the same means, and
an application to the same source through which
it was first obtained. " He experienced it,"
says Mr. Dawson, "upwards of thirty years —
lived and died in the full possession of its ex-
cellences. O, with what warmth, affection,
and pathos, he used to speak of his enjoying
the perfect love of God in his heart ! — that love
which casts out tormenting fear, and strongly
and sweetly constrains the whole soul to en-
gage in the whole will of God, as revealed in
his word." This love expanded his naturally
affectionate heart, and his bowels yearned for
the salvation of his friends, his neighbours, and
the world."

CHAPTER IV.

Samuel's public character — His call to speak in public —
A dream — Reproves a clergyman — Assists in prayer meet-
ings— Visits Howden and other places — A remarkable out-
pouring of the Spirit of God — His power in prayer — Labours
to be useful — Suits his language and thoughts to the employ-
ment of persons addressed — A general plan laid down for
the spread of religion in the villages of Garforth, Barwick,
&c. — Samuel received as a regular local preacher — His
person — Intellect — Influence — Peculiarities — Tenderness —
Language — Style of preaching — An apology for his ministry.

Two things have contributed essentially to
the spread of Wesleyan Methodism : first,, the

5

66 THE vii, lac. 1; BLACKSMITH.

adaptation of its rules and regulations to every
condition of man ; and secondly, the provision
which its rules have made for the encourage-
ment and exercise of every description ol talent.
Having risen out of circumstances t it accommo-
dates itself to that nature which is the same in
every climate to which those circumstances
belong ; and it can furnish employment for «//,
from the youth that lisps in prayer to the elo-
quence of the pulpit — from the Village Black-
smith to the man crowned with academical
honours. The system, under God, brought into
exercise the powers possessed by .Samuel
Hick, who has been heard to say, " I know
that the Lord has given me one talent, and I am
resolved to use it. He has given friend D. ten,
but I am determined that he shall never run
away with my one." And to his honour it may
be recorded, that he made his one go much
further in real interest to the cause of God, than
many with ten times the intellect and influence.
He appears to have exercised occasionally
in public, prior to the revival of the work of
God at Sturton Grange. Mr. Dawson remarks,
" that he first engaged in the prayer-meetings,
and next spoke a word by way of exhortation.
The last was done like himself, and always
gained the attention of his hearers." Exclusive
of a distinct impression upon his mind that it
was his duty to call sinners to repentance, he
was not a little influenced by a dream which
he had, and to which he might be excused for
paying th^ greater attention, as God employed

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 67

a dream for the purpose of rousing him from
spiritual slumber ; and more especially might
he be excused, when revelation warrants the
belief, that "in a dream, in a vision of the
night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in
slumbers upon the bed ; then" God " openeth
the ears of men and sealeth their instruc-
tion." The substance of it was this : — He
dreamed one night that he set sail to the West
Indies in the character of a missionary, to
preach the gospel to the poor negroes — that, on
his landing, he saw a pulpit, the stairs of which
he ascended — and, on unfolding the leaves of
the Bible, which was laid before him, a perfect
blank was presented to his eye. " A pretty
thing this," said he to himself; "a Bible, and
not a text in it !" He turned over the leaves
again and again, and suddenly on one of the
white pages several beautiful gold letters sprang
into form, and dazzled his sight. The words
were, " Prepare ye the way of the Lord," &c.
These he announced as his text, and began to
preach. In the course of the sermon a poor
woman was so affected while intently listening
to him, and gazing upon him, that she cried
aloud for mercy. He instantly quitted the pul-
pit, descended its steps, directed his way to the
penitent, prayed with her, and soon had the
unspeakable pleasure of hearing her proclaim
the mercy of God in the forgiveness of her
sins. From this pleasing dream he awoke ;
and under its warmest impression, exclaimed to
his wife, accosting her by name, " Matty, I be

68 T1IF. VILLAGE B£ KITH.

lieve I am called to preach the gospel." Mar-
tha, less awake to the subject than himself,
requested him to go to Bleep ri irain, not a little
infidel in her principles respecting it.

Thifl relation was given in his oim wayt on a
platform, at the first Wealeyan missionary
meeting held at Selby, November 10th, 1814,
before a crowded audience, when the writer of
this memoir was present, together with Mr.
Dawson and others, and for the first time was
favoured with the sight of Samuel. The de-
scription of the vessel in which he made his
voyage, which is too ludicrous to appear among
graver associations — his suddenly turning to the
pulpit, and pointing to it as a model of the one
in which he supposed himself to have preached
— the familiarity of some of his comparisons,
his views rising no higher, in reference to the
gold characters, from his days having been
spent mostly in the country, than some of the
more costly sign-boards of the tradesman — his
grotesque figure, and still more characteristic
action, for the latter of which he was not a little
indebted to his trade, his arms being stretched
out, with his hands locked in each other, while
he elevated and lowered them as though he
had been engaged at the anvil : varying in his
movements as he rose in zeal and quickened in
delivery, becoming more and more emphatic —
his tears — his smiles — his tenderness — his sim-
plicity— the adroitness with which he turned
upon the text, the effects of the sermon, &c. to
strengthen his call to the work — the manner

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 69

in which he brought the subject to bear upon
the object of the meeting — and his offering
himself in the fulness of his spirit at the close
as a missionary, telling the people that his
"heart was good," his "health was good," and
his " appetite was good ;" that he wanted not
their money, but would bear his own expenses ;
and that, sustaining his own burden, he should
consider it, provided family connections would
admit, the highest honour that could be con-
ferred upon him ; — the whole, in short, pro-
ducing, both upon the platform and among the
people, an effect rarely witnessed, and a scene
calculated to move on with the memory, and
live as a distinct picture in the imagination.

That he had other and more substantial
proofs of his call to exercise in public, there is
no question ; but the above shows the peculiar
cast of his mind, and his attention to what was
passing within, whether asleep or awake, to-
gether with his readiness to convert every thing
to pious purposes — manifesting, in innumerable
instances, stronger evidences of piety than of
judgment.

He regularly attended Micklefield chapel-of-
ease, in which service was performed about
this time, once a fortnight on the Lord's day,

by the Rev. T., of Monkfryson, a village

about five miles distant. Mr. T. had ten shil-
lings and sixpence per day allowed him for his
labour ; but neither exhibiting the morality of
the gospel in his life, nor preaching its doc-
trines in the pulpit, — denying the inspiration of

70 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

the Spirit in his sermon, after the people had
been praying for it in the liturgy, Samuel took
the liberty of addressing him on the subject one
day, us he was passing his door on bis way to
Fryson. " Sir," said he, " I must tell you that
you do not preach the gospel. You Bay that
there has been no such tiling as inspiration
since the apostles' days. Your sermon contra-
dicts your prayers ; and I know by experience
that there is such a thing as inspiration." He
added, " I have been praying to my Lord eithor
to convert you, that you may preach the truth,
or that he would send some one else to preach
it ; and I fully believe that he will not let you
come* here much longer." Mr. T. said little in
•reply : and though Samuel's rebuke might bo
deemed a compound of ignorance and of impu-
dence, by those who knew him least, vet such
was the event, that Mr. T. only preached in
Micklefirfld church chapel two or three times
afterward, and an evangelical clergyman sup-
plied for some time his place. The fact is
simply stated ; every reader may select and
enjoy his own inference ; but place Samuel's
prayer out of the question, his fidelity — and this
is the chief design of the relation — is of more
real value in the illustration of character, than
any conjecture as to the cause of the change.
In the earlier part of his public history, to
which it is proper to return, an extensive field
of usefulness was laid before him, in the line
which Providence apparently marked out for the
" Prayirfg Colliers," with whose labours his

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITM. 71

own were soon identified. Wherever he went
he was popular and useful ; but his popularity
was rather the result of singularity, than drawn
upon him by any peculiar display of pulpit
talent ; while his usefulness was chiefly among
those of his own order — though he was highly
respected by his superiors in talent and in pro-
perty. Not being as yet, however, a regularly
accredited local preacher, remarks on his men-
tal powers, and the character and style of his
public addresses, must be reserved for the pe-
riod when he was fairly brought upon the local
preachers' plan.

One of his earliest public excursions was
into the Hull circuit, whither he was invited in
company with the " Colliers," and from the
outskirts of which no less than seven horses
were sent to carry them and their colleagues to
the first scene of labour — Spaldington Out-
side, where they were met by the Rev. James
Wood, the superintendent :— a pilgrimage this,
which, while it might have furnished Chaucer
with an episode for his " Canterbury Tales,"
would have greatly enhanced their devotional
character. Samuel was in the full enjoyment
of the heaven which the witness of his sanctifi-
cation had imparted, and was ready to conclude,
as he observed, that " the enemy of souls was
dead, because" he himself " was dead to sin ;"
but he found that he was only entering the field
of battle; rejoicing meanwhile that he "was
provided with the whole armour of God."

Mr. Wood, whose judgment, gravity, and ex-

72

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

penence, would operate as a suitable check to
the ebulliency of spirit of these revivalists ac-
companied them to several places. Howden
was the first place at which an extraordinary
influence of the Holy Spirit was manifested ;
and was especially felt in a prayer-meeting in
the awakening of sinners, many of whom,
Samuel observed, « cried out like the slain in
battle." Several of the old members, ofTended
with the noise, left the chapel. " They could
not stand this," said Samuel ; adding in" his pe-
culiar turn of thought, " It was a mercy they
went out ; for it rid the place of a deal of unbe-
lief, which they took away with them." Pre-
viously to leaving the chapel himself, he had a
rencounter with one of his own trade, a genuine
son of Vulcan, who might have been drawn to
the spot from what he had heard of the Village
Blacksmith. Samuel was pressing home by
personal appeal, the subject of experimental
religion upon an old man, when the person re-
ferred to came up to him, and requested him to
let the old man alone, declaring him to be ex-
ceeded by no one in the town for honesty, and
affirming his belief that he would go to heaven
when he died. Samuel brought him to the test
of <• sin forgiven ;" stating, if he knew not this,
he doubted of his safety. His opponent imme-
diately bred, telling him, if he said so again, he
would "fell" him. This was language which
Samuel would not have brooked on the day he
heard Mr. Burdsall, at York, without the metal
of his own temper being heated to the same

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 73

temperature with that of the person who stood
before him ; but he was now another man, and
fought with other weapons. He replied with un-
daunted brow, " I have no fear of that : if you lift
your hand up, I believe you will not get it down
again." So saying, he dropped upon his knees,
and began to pray for the man, who, apparently
afraid lest the prayer should turn upon judgment
rather than mercy, made a precipitate flight.

After the service was closed, he went to the
house of Mr. Ward, a local preacher, where he
was invited to spend the night. The good lady
)f the house, being of the Baptist persuasion,
was less prepared than her husband for the
feverish agitation attendant on some of the
prayer-meetings, . and, agreeably to her own
news, lectured Samuel on the subject, declaring
,hat he and his associates were destroying the
work of God, and that they had made the house
)f God a house of confusion ; warmly recom-
mending decency and order. " Confusion !"
he exclaimed ; " I believe there was such con-
fusion, and great confusion, too, on the day of
pentecost." But it was not for him to stand
and reason the case with his hostess, however
competent to the task ; he therefore adopted
his " short and easy method" of settling dis-
putes, by going to prayer ; " for I thought,"
said he, " she and I should agree best upon our
knees." He there poured forth his petitions
with great simplicity and fervour for her and
for the family. When he arose, she affection-
ately took him by the hand, which to him was

7fl tut: village blacksmith.

the right hand of fellowship. On finding
another spirit in her, he told her, that in most
revivals of religion " three sorts of work" might
be recognised—" the work of God, the work of
man, and the work of the devil ;" stating, that
when the latter two were destroyed, the first
would stand ; and that we should be careful
not to injure the one in suppressing the other.
The good lady was so completely overcome by
the sincerity and simplicity of his intentions,
his spirit, and his manners, that she made it her
study to render his stay as agreeable as possi-
ble, by heaping upon him every social comfort.
His mode of conducting a discussion, or more
properly of terminating one, was the best adapted
to his own case, and might be safely recom-
mended in nine instances out of every ten,
where the best side of a question is entertained
with the worst arguments for its support ; for
certainly a question is not to be decided by the
merits of the person who takes it up ; and the
best of causes may have the feeblest advocates.
The next day the party went to Spaldington
Outside, at which place a gentleman of the
name of Bell at present resides ; and such was
the concourse of people collected together from
neighbouring and distant parts, that no building
could be found sufficiently large to accommo-
date them. The horses of those that rode were
tied to the gates and hedges, — aivins' the dis-
tant appearance of a troop of cavalry, and the
company divided themselves into two distinct
bands, and occupied two large barns. In the

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 75

barn originally intended for the meeting, a tem-
porary platform was erected for the accommo-
dation of the prayer-leaders, exhorters, and
more respectable portion of the female part of
the auditory. The latter, in the estimation of
Samuel, were mere spectators of the work of
God upon others. The influence, however,
becoming more general, one of these, under
deep awakenings of soul, cried aloud for mercy;
and as though determined to be avenged of her
besetting sin, her love of finery, she made a
sacrifice of part of her adornings upon the spot,
by throwing them among the poorer people be-
low. With the exception of two or three extra-
vagances— the absence of which had been
more remarkable than their manifestation, and
which are subjects of forbearance rather than
approval under all such circumstances — the
meeting was attended with great good.

From this place they proceeded to Newport,
where several persons were convinced of sin,
and others found peace with God ; the service
continued till midnight : Mr. James Wood con-
ducted the meeting, which was distinguished
by great decorum. Instead of going to Hull the
succeeding day, as previously arranged, Samuel
was obliged to return home. But it was of no
importance where he was : on the road, in his
shop, in the field, he was ceaseless in his at-
tempts to benefit those who came in his way.

Journeying homeward, he saw a young man
sowing- seed in a field, whom he accosted in
his usually abrupt, yet affectionate manner ; —

76 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

" You seem in earnest. Have you had time to
water your seed ?" " No," returned the sower;
" we never water this kind of seed : it is wheat,
not rye, that we steep, and sprinkle with lime."
Samuel had another object in view, and said,
11 That is not what I want to be at : have you
been on your knees this morning, praying to
God to give his blessing to the seed ?" This
instantly brought the charge of Methodism upon
him. "0, you are a Methodist! If you had
been at our church yesterday, you would have
heard our parson give thorn their character."
" You had a poor errand there," was the reply :
" if the Methodists are wrong, you ought to
pray for them to be set right." It was in this
way that he was constantly scattering seed —
not always skilfully, yet often seasonably; for
there were many instances of its falling into
" good ground."

He did not always escape with the same
triumphant feeling as that with which he with-
drew from the sower just noticed, in his at-
tempts at usefulness. Though his knowledge
was limited within very narrow bounds, yet, as
far as it extended, his sense of propriety always
led him to delight in seeing any employment
attended to in a workmanlike manner. On
another occasion he perceived a youth turning
up a piece of land with the plough. His pa-
tience, which was occasionally one of his most
vulnerable parts, being a little touched with the
carelessness and awkwardness of the lad, he
shouted out, as he paused a moment to look at

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 77

him, " How dare you attempt to plough my
Lord's land in that way V* proceeding to give
some directions, when he was stopped short by
him, — thus showing not only his quickness in
comprehending Samuel's allusion to the Divine
Proprietor, but his smartness in so promptly
meeting him in his own character, — " I am
turning up a holding- green for the devil :" inti-
mating as much as though any thing done, and
in any way, was good enough for the purpose
to which the ground was to be devoted. This
was so much relished by Samuel, that the no-
tions of agricultural propriety which were flut-
tering in his imagination, and to which he was
about to give utterance, broke up like a congre-
gation of swallows in autumn — took instant
flight, only to return with the appearance of the
plough in'the course of the ensuing spring ; as
also did all the moral lessons which he intended
to found on the employment in which the lad
was engaged.

x\nother field of labour opened to him after
this period, more regular and permanent in its
character, and much more accommodating to
his circumstances. "About the year, 1797,"
says Mr. Dawson, " a plan was laid down to en-
gage the talents of all the prayer-leaders and
exhorters in the villages of Garforth, Barwick,
Kippax, and Micklefield, together with other
places in the vicinity ; all of whom were to be
united, and to itinerate through the whole
neighbourhood. Brother Hick very readily
agreed to have his name entered upon the plan.

78 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

and having a horse at command, he could go to
the most distant places without difficulty. ' He
attended promptly and conscientiously to his
appointments, so long as the union existed ;
and it was this plan that brought him to the
notice of many persons who otherwise would
not have been acquainted with him, and laid the
foundation of his future and more widely ex-
tended usefulness. After this, his name was
placed upon the regular local preachers' plan,
of the Pontefract circuit, the places of which he
supplied with pleasure to himself and profit to
the people, to whom he recommended the per-
son and salvation of Jesus Christ. When
Micklefield was taken into the Selby circuit, his
name was inserted in the plan of the local
preachers belonging to that circuit ; but resid-
ing on the borders of the Selby and Pontefract
circuits, his name stood on both plans."* In
reference to the last particular, Air. Dawson
proceeds, " I remember calling upon him one
day, when he observed that his time was pretty
well filled up, saying, < You see I have my
name upon both Pontefract and Selbv plans ;'
emphatically adding, < there is no living with
halficork:" [t was his " meat and his drink,"

* This was considerably subsequent to the period of 1797
when the general plan was made, which associated the
prayer-leaders with the exhorters. One of Samuel's con-
temporaries thinks it was not till 1803 that he was rc-ntlarlv
admitted on the plan, though he had addressed public Assem-
blies from the tune stated as above. Prior to the year 1807
the plans of the Pontefract circuit were written ; after that,
hey were printed. Selby became the head of a circuit in

1" 1^.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 79

like Him " who went about doing good," to do
the will of his Father ; and in the execution of
that will he alone could live.

The first time he ventured to take a te/x*
was in a school-room in Aberford, his native
place ; and it was the one with which he was
dazzled in his dream. The room was crowd-
ed ; and it is probable that the success of this,
and a few similar attempts, might have led the
way for the insertion of his name on the plan
among " exhorters." That the attempt was
prior to such" insertion, is likely from the fact
of the person belonging to the school-room
having joined Mr. Kilham's adherents soon
after the division, on the event of which there
would be but little disposition to grant the loan
of the place, owing to the state of party feeling
which was then at the highest point of eleva-
tion. He had large congregations in those
days ; and when he had no regular appoint-
ment, he very often, in company with his
friend William Brandfoot, travelled from ten to
fifteen miles to a love-feast ; — an example, by
the way, which is not much to be commended,
and which becomes criminal — though far from
the case with Samuel — when persons give the
preference to a love-feast in the country to the
sacrament of the Lord's supper in the town, and
nearly at their own door. Being now fairly be-
fore the public, it is desirable that a distinct
image of the man should be put into the posses-
sion of the reader, that he may have a more
correct conception of the personage with whom

80 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

he passes along, instead of being in the pre-
sence of a kind of invisible agent, with whom
he is permitted to converse in the dark, till the
writer, in the usual biographical mode, and as
though his pen had been previously employed
on some other person, is pleased to unveil his
subject at the close of his work in the exhibition
of a summary sketch of his character. The
subject of this memoir may be considered at
this period as possessing that which, in the ge-
neral acceptation of the term, properly consti-
tutes character, and that too perfectly distinct in
itself. Instead, therefore, of throwing the mind
of the reader back, at the close of the book,
upon that which has grown out of character, and
not character fi-om it, he must carry forward
with him a distinct recollection of" the max,
through which he will be the better prepared
for all that may follow, as well as judge of the
likeness given— the one proceeding Ifrom the
other like the tree from the root, the bough
from the stem, and the fruit from the minor
branches ; just as character gives rise to cir-
cumstances, and circumstances become the
medium through which the tempers of the mind
and dispositions of the heart aro manifested,
unfolding themselves to others, cither as whole-
some or pernicious fruit.

There was but little that might be deemed
prepossessing in his person. He was tall and
bony, rising to the height of about six feet.
Hard labour, and the nature of his employment
— lowering one arm with the iron, and raising

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 81

the other with the hammer, while he stooped
at the anvil — gave a roundness to the upper
part of his back, and a slight, elevation to his
right shoulder. His hair was naturally light — ■
his complexion fair — his face full, but more in-
clined to the oval than the round — and his ge-
neral features small, with a soft, quick, blue
gray, twinkling eye, partaking of the character
of his mind, twinkling in thought, and sending
out occasional and inexpressible natural beau-
ties, like streaks of sunshine between other-
wise darkly rolling clouds.

His mind was peculiarly constructed, and had
all the effect in preaching and in conversation
of an intellect broken into fragments — not shi-
ning forth as a whole, like the sun diffusing
light and day ; but the scattered portions shi-
ning separately, like stars in the heavens ; and
these too not silently and slowly stealing out,
one by one, but suddenly breaking upon the eye
in numbers, and from unexpected quarters, some
of them but indistinctly visible, and others as
lovely as Venus in all her glory. He appeared
utterly incapable of classifying his thoughts ;*

* In the more lengthened extracts given from his papers,
the writer has occasionally taken the liberty of transposing
some of the thoughts, for the sake of preserving something
like unity and order ; attending at the same time, with the
strictest scrupulosity, to the sense intended to be conveyed
to the reader. Samuel was not altogether ignorant of the
character and extent of his intellectual powers, any mofre
than of his moral condition. Speaking of him to Dr. A.
Clarke once, the writer found W at Samuel had visited him
at his residence, Haydon Hall, r, ?ar Pinner, Middlesex, in
!he neighbourhood of which the doctor sent him to conduct a
e.'jjiofs mrptjn?, ■with n view to communicatf, under God.

6

82 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

and it is doubted by the writer, whether any
mode of mental discipline which could have
been adopted, even in youth, would have re-
duced his then comparatively chaotic mind to
order; and equally doubtful, whether any so-
ciety, with such a peculiarly constructed mind,
would have given ease, and grace, and polish
10 his manners, "i et rude, or, perhaps, more
properly unwicldly, as were the latter, there
was nothing to ofTend ; for while persons in the
middle ranks of life were not at a sufficient
remove from him to form a contrast, those in
the higher walks of society were instantly ar-
rested by an undefinable something about him
which taught them, that thai which might not
comport with good taste, was, nevertheless, that
which ought to be borne, and by an impression
in his favour, which would instantly compel every
high-wrought feeling, and all etiquette, to bow

a quickening influence to the people, for which, as an in-
strument, he was toleralily calculated. The doctor had nut
with him at Bristol, in Yorkshire, prior to this period; and
related with a degree of pleasantry — for it was impossible
for the most grave to relate some of his conversations with-
out a slight contortion of the facial nerve — his first interview
with him. Samuel, with his usual openness and simplicity,
covered with smiles, stepped quickly up to the doctor, shook
hands with him, and after a few words, artlessly proceeded
thus: — "You can get through with preaching better than
me : 1 cannot bear to be disturbed : I have but one id, a, you
see : and if I lose that, why, I have then no more to go'to :
hut you, sir, you have a many ideas ; so that if you were to
lose one, you could pick up another by the way, and go on
with it." By "one idea," he meant the leading thought on
which he intended to dwe I. While the relation assists
in the illustration of intelle< tual character, it shows also the
desolation which sometimes appeared to himself, occasioned
bv a want of reading, when he turned his p\o inward

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 83

before the untutored blacksmith — entering, be-
fore he was long in their presence, into the real
enjoyment of his society and conversation, and
delightfully embracing opportunities for again
holding converse with him. To persons in the
polished circles it was a relief to the mind to be
with him — one of those novel scenes but oc-
casionally met with in the landscape of life.
Instead of the dull, monotonous plain, whose
richest garb becomes common-place by con-
stantly gazing upon it, in Samuel it was like
broken rocks, wood and water ; a piece of moor
land, with patches of rich soil beneath the
heath, with here and there a flower of surpris-
ing beauty springing up in the midst of the wil-
derness scene ; the whole contributing to show
the effect of grace upon nature — and a nature too
which, without that grace, could never have
been subdued into any thing like decorum or
sobriety. This might appear to some, and may
not improbably be subjected to the charge, as
partaking a little too much of the pencil and
colouring of the artist ; as permitting, in the
real character of romance, the imagination to be
let loose upon a subject which ought to command
the graver exercise of reason. The fact is —
for not any thing shall be permitted to operate
to the suppression of truth, and the Christianity
of the case has nothing to fear in the way of
consequence — the fact is, that such a man, and
such a life might — and it is penned with re-
verence— might, without the aid of imagination-,
without any art or exaggeration, form the ground-

84 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

work of a lighter exhibition, say — a farce, to
ihe awfully solemn, and splendid representation
of the Christian religion. But then, religion
had nothing to do in the construction of the
man's mind — a mind more nearly allied to the
comic than the tragic, in its operations, and
whose effects, though perfectly undesigned on
the part of the actor, laid a more powerful hold
upon the lighter than the graver feelings.
Christianity took the man as it found him, and
performed upon him its grand work, which is
not to change the construction of the mind so
much as its nature; to effect, in other words,
its iUuminatiun and renovation : nor is it re-
quisite, to compare temporal things with spi-
ritual, in cleansing a building, to change the
position of either a door or a window. The
grace of God was observed to lay a strong hand
upon an otherwise untractable nature — making
light shine into darkness, as well as out of it —
straightening the crookedness of. fallen hu-
manity — planting flowers where nothing but the
rankest, weeds would have grown — forcing by
an irresistible power, an untaught, and. in some
respects, though not in the strongest sense, an
uncouth being — upon society, and compelling
the wisdom, the wealth, the dignity of this
world to bow before that being — one, who,
without the grace of God, would have been in
danger of being despised, and yet the despisers,
through that grace, acknowledging the power
of the Supreme in a thing of naught.

This is not a subject slightly to be dismissed.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 85

Samuel Hick was untaught in the school of
this world ; art would have been lost upon him ;
he was one upon whom education and polished
society, as already hinted, could never have
had their full effect; he seemed formed by na-
ture, as well as designed by Providence, for the
forge ; and not any thing short of the grace of
God appears to have been capable of construct-
ing more than a blacksmith out of the materials
of which he was composed. It was never in-
tended that the hand of a Phidias should work
upon him. Such was the peculiar vein, though
excellent in itself, that it would never have
paid for the labour. No man with greater self-
appropriation — not even the apostle himself —
could exclaim, " By the grace of God I am
what. I am ;" or with the poet, " 0, to grace how
great a debtor !"

Not any thing, however, that has been ad-
vanced on his mental endowments and capa-
bilities, and as applicable to him as a fallen
being, in common with others of the same
species, is intended in the least to deny him
the credit of possessing great openness of dis-
position, and unbounded generosity. The latter
was expressed, not always gracefully but ho-
nestly and warmly ; and like the sea-anemone,
which feels the first returning wave upon the
rock, and throws out all its tendrils, his tender
nature would give forth all its sympathies on
the slightest intimation of human wo. United
to uncommon tenderness of heart, there was a
sincerity and a simplicity which no one could

86 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

resist, which linked him to every spirit he
came near, and which, while his own yearn
ings led him to weep over distress, to seek it
QUt in all its haunts, and to relieve it to the
leaving of himself pennyless, ever secured to
him fellow-helpers in any projected work of
benevolence. And yet, with his own bowels
of compassion thus yearning over human misery
— misery both of body and of mind — his eyes
suffused with tears, and his face beaming with
patriarchal benevolence, melting the hearts of
those that stood before him, who mingled their
tears with his — it was impossible — such were
the outbreakings of intellect, such the sudden
transitions of thought, such his similes for illus-
tration, such his peculiar mode of expression,
his half-solemn, half-comic, or undesignedly
l:idicrous representations — it was impossible to
suppress the smile ; and smiles would have
been actually flickering, like patches of light,
over the same face down which the big gushing
tears were seen chasing each other in rapid
succession. Before a few seconds had elapsed,
all smiles had subsided, and the listener was
left almost angry with himself for indulging in
them, when he was aware that the speaker
never intended them to appear in company with
tears on such occasion and on such a subject ;
and still larger tears would start — the auditor
employed in wiping them away with his pocket-
handkerchief.

In preaching, as in conversation, he was never
at " one stay," in reference to subject ; but ever

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 87

and anon there were line strokes of wit, touches
of keen repartee in his addresses to sinners, and
occasional beautiful illustrations of Scripture,
turning often upon a single thought capable of
furnishing hints for superior minds and better
thinking, not only by being themselves im-
proved in the laboratory of the brain, but by
leading to another and still nobler train of
thought, which might ultimately enrich the in-
dividual, and which — except for having thus
been struck out by Samuel, like a spark from
his own anvil — would never have been elicited
by long and previous study. In this way in-
ferior minds often become steps by which su-
perior intellects attain a higher character of
thought. To the uninstructed and depressed,
his preaching was especially adapted; and by
bringing a great deal of what was familiar to
the lower orders of society into his addresses,
he was extensively useful in encouraging and
raising the minds of the humble poor, who could
indulge with a relish in such food as he had to
give, without satiety ; when more costly and
highly decorated dishes would have been much
less savoury. Not a few of his strokes in the
pulpit were as sudden as those which were
manifested in his regular calling, when sparks
as profusely seemed to fly all around, warming
and enlightening, and bidding the profanely
heedless stand out of the way.

His language in the pulpit was the same as
in social life — the broadest, and yet, as has
been already intimated, most closely abbreviated

88 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

West Yorkshire dialect ; the former giving a
fulness and ouaintncss to many of his intellect-
u.il clothings ; and the latter operating, to em-
ploy a homely simile, like a pair of scissors in
the organs of speech, clipping a piece from off
each word, and not unfrequently from the same
word at both ends.* This to a Yorkshireman,

* The writer had it once in contemplation to give the
whole of Samuel's remarks in the dialect in which he spoke.
But though this would have given greater prominence to his
character, it might have diminished the effect which it was
otherwise desirable to produce. Nor is it necessary for
purposes of accuracy to give a man's pronunciation in the
words he employs. Fidelity in such a case would be as absurd
as unnecessary, since it would require every piece of biogra-
phy to vary according to its subject, from the peer to the
peasant. An ingenious apology therefore might be framed
for honest Samuel, from either Walker's or any other Pro-
nouncing Dictionary, in which the eye and the ear are almost
perpetually at variance with each other, in the difference
which subsists between the spelling and the pronunciation o£
the same word; and also in the fluctuations in the same
language amon^ the same people, at different periods of time.
A few words from the vocabulary of the deceased, which
the reader will find in a Glossary at the front of the volume,
as exemplified in his papers, drawn from his conversations
iV'\, will furnish a correct conception of his language, and
will support a remark made in a preceding page. As the
language cannot operate as a reflection against Samuel in
any other way than that in which the whole of the lowi i
grades in society in the west of Yorkshire arc participators ;
and as tne inhabitants of different portions of the island are
not exempt from conversational peculiarities and provincial-
isms, one county or district is as much entitled to the laugh
as the other, and also forbearance. The following specimen
of the English language; in a letter of Robert Waterton, t<
King Henry V., 1420, dated fnnu Methley, where the king
had his lodge, and where Samuel, some centuries afterward,
moved, conversed, and. in a few instances, entrenched on
the very same pronunciation with the worthy letter-writer,
will be a curiosity to some readers : —

" Os [as] I have concey vid by zour right honourable lcttrcs

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 89

and particularly one of the least educated, gave
Samuel an advantage over many of his bre-
thren— he always appearing to such a one like
an instrument in tune : but to another than a
Yorkshire ear, the instrument often gave an
" uncertain sound," the sense being to be ga-
thered, not from detached parts, but from the
whole; and as his speech was rather rapid, his
preaching, to persons unacquainted with his
provincialisms and pronunciation, had the effect
of a broken English from the lips of a foreigner,
where attention is constantly kept up, in order
to come at the sense of the speaker, and where
the interest continues to heighten in proportion
as we are let into the meaning of what is heard.
To keep perfectly grave through one of his
pulpit addresses was extremely difficult : yet
the most grave found it impossible to be angry,

wrytin at zour Cytee, the which I have receyvid right iate
syth Pask [Easter] wyth othir zour lettres undir zour Pryve
Seale, charging me to assaye by all the menese [means]
that I kan to exyte and stirre sych as bene able gentilmen
wythin the shyre and the contree, that I dwell in, to kome
[come] ovyr to zowe at zour Wage, armyd and wrayde as
langys [belongs] to thaire astate, to do zowe servyce, and
for to certifie als well to zowe os to zour Counsell of thaire
answere and thaire will, the whych zour hegh comaunde-
ment I have bygune to labour apon and sail trewely forthe
[further] dayly wyth all my myght till I have perfourmd zour
forsayd comaundement. And upon Wedynsdaye next sail
zour Justice sitte at Zork [York] apon the deliverance of
the Gaole there and a Cession of the Pees [Peace] also, at
which tyme I suppose to speke with many of the gentyls
there, and als sone aftyr as I maye be answered I sail cer-
tifie os zowe hase lykid to comaunde me, wyth all the
haste, &c. Writin at zour awne logge at Metheleye the xii
daye of Aprill zour trewe leige man and subgitte, &c.'
See Ellis's Original Letters, vol. i, p. C.

90 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

because they saw at once there was no design
to produce a smile on the part of the speaker,
and that he seemed unconscious of its presence
while there. It resolved itself into a peculiarity
rather than a fault — an imperfection in the me-
dium of communication, rather than a sin, in
the first instance, in the man ; and hence the
line of forbearance — forgiveness being uncalled
for — ran parallel with the failing or infirmity.

To advocate, in unqualified terms of approba-
tion, the establishment of such a style of preach-
ing, would argue as little taste, judgment, skill
in Christianity, and knowledge of human na-
ture, as it would, in another view of the subject,
have been criminal to deny such a man oppor-
tunities of usefulness, since numbers might have
remained unbenefited to the same extent by more
highly polished instruments. The Divine Being,
who found a place in the Old Testament church
for the employment of one of the lierdmcn of
Tekoa, and in the New, for a fisherman of
Galilee, and a tcntmakcr of Tarsus,* has

* The writer is aware that it was customary for the
higher ranks in society among the Jews, as well as the poor,
»o teach their children a trade ; it being a maxim among
them, that " he who teaches not his son a trade teaches him
to be a thief," and that one of the Jewish rabbies was sur-
named the Shoemaker, another the Baker, <fc : nor is he
less aware that it constituted a part of the education of
others of the easterns, and was practised down to the time
of Sir Paul Ricaut ; the grand seignior, to whom he was
ambassador, having been taught to make wooden spools —
taught not only as an amusement, but as necessary to sup-
port life under adverse circumstances, on any unexpected
change of fortune : and may be told from hence, that the
mechanical arts thus connecting themselves, not only with
rank, but with the literature of the times, ought not to be ad

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. y

certainly not altered the constitution of his
church so seriously as to deny the mechanic
an official situation in it now 1 He who divided
public teachers of old into different classes, giv-
ing "some apostles; and some prophets; and
some evangelists ; and some pastors and teach-
ers ;" not despising the humbler office of an ex-
farter ; does not now surely find human nature
in such a delightfully improved state as to ren-
der exhortation useless ? He who required the
use of from one to ten talents in the days of his
flesh, does not find the highest number multi-
plying so fast, certainly, that he cannot, in the
order of his providence, and in the government
of his church, furnish employment to persons

duced as a precedent to support the modern custom of grant
ing mechanics a license to preach the gospel. There are
two classes of objectors; and -hose who are not met by one
example receive a check from another. Some persons con-
tend for a systematic, classical education, and condemn the
smallest interference with the arts, as though they either
lowered the dignity or contaminated the purity of the priest-
hood. Such are referred to the case of St. Paul, who, after
his consecration to the priest's office, was not ashamed to
labour with his own hands. The second class of objectors
include such as would tolerate a literary character, but
persist in maintaining that the illiterate mechanic has nc
right to assume the office of a Christian teacher. These are
directed to the case of Peter—Peter, who could never boast
of a classical education, and yet under the tuition of the
Holy Ghost, could speak of " unlearned" men wresting the
Scriptures to their own destruction, establishing by that a
claim to another kind of learning from that which is taught
in our public schools — without which a manm?y be a novice
in tne things of God, and with which, the unlettered plebeian
rises, in church affairs, superior to the most erudite who is
otherwise unschooled in the experimental verities of Chris-
tianity. It is not a little singular, that among some of the per-
sons who object to receive instruction from the lips of a poor
mechanic, there are those who can see no impropriety in a,

92 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

possessed of only one or two ? Such a ministry,
owned of God ; and he has deigned to own it :
ought to be borne by the more highly gifted and
cultivated, for the sake o/*the poor,lo thousands
of whom the preaching of the Village Black-
smith, and others as unlettered as himself, has
been of essential service. It may occasionally
produce the blush of learning; but, in doing
this, piety at the same moment is compelled to
blush at the very life which some of the lite-
rati lead ; and thus blushes are blushed at in
their turn ; for what in the one is criminal, in
the other is an infirmity ; and to see such as in
the eye of learning appear halt, and maimed,
and infirm, rise in arms against the common

clergyman attending to his glebe through the week. In "A
Charge delivered to the Clergy of the Deaneries of Rich-
mond and Catterick, within the Diocess of Chester, on
Thursday, July 4th, 1816, by John Headlam, A. M., Rector
of Wycfiffe, and Deputy Commissary of the Archdeaconry
of Richmond," agricultural pursuits are highly recommended
to the clergy. Since then, Mr. Headlam has been elevated
to the dignity of an archdeacon, and one of the clerical agri-
culturists in the neighbourhood died in a state of insolvency.
This case — should a second edition of the Sermon be de-
manded, should lead Mr. Headlam to reconsider the para-
graph in which the advice is given. Though such failure
might be urged as a caution against ministers already set
apart for the sacred office entering into the business of the
world, who possess a competency of personal property, or
are otherwise respectably supported by their separate
charges, or as by lav/ established ; it could not be so suc-
cessfully urged against men already engaged in commercial
pursuits, who received their call in the midst of such pur
suits — who, from various causes, rn«J be prevented from
devoting themselves exclusively to the work — who toil like
Samuel Hick, without salary — and who have no other way
of supporting themselves and their families, but by manual
or other labour.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 93

enemy of man, argues, at least, as in civil af-
fairs, a nobler public spirit ; a higher degree of
patriotism ; than is possessed by persons of su-
perior ability, who remain inactive, and who
ought to be led on by a sense of duty to labour
for the public good. The moment it is esta-
blished as a truth, that " God hath" not
" chosen the foolish things of the world to
confound the wise, and weak things of the
world to confound the things which are mighty ;"
that very moment a substantial plea is instituted
against the preaching of Samuel Hick.

CHAPTER V.

His diligence — The light in which he beheld mankind —
The substance of a conversation held with Earl Mexborough
- -Samuel's circumscribed knowledge in natural history —
His views of the Bible — Proofs in favour of the doctrine of
future rewards and punishments — His visit to the seat of
Earl Mexborough — A point of conscience — A painting —
Fidelity in reproving sin, at the hazard of being injured in
his trade — The millennium dexterously hitched in, as a
check to pleasure-takers — Three hunting ecclesiastics ren-
dered the subject of merriment among the titled laity —
Ministerial fruit a proof of the power of truth, not of a call
to preach it — Duty on saddled horses viewed as a hardship
— Samuel's more extended labours — Privations — Persecu-
tions— A poor widow — A conquest over bigotry at Ledsham.

Beixg now recognised as a regular local
preacher, Samuel conscientiously attended to
his various appointments, though he was far
from parsimoniously confining himself to them,
as li duty proceeded no further than the limits

94 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

prescribed to him by his brethren. His zeal
was not to be bounded by the appointments of
a plan. He observed his appointments as he did
his regular seasons for private prayer — as duties
to be performed — not to be neglected but with
peril — and attended to with delight ; but extra
work was like a special season for retirement —
something out of the regular track — and was
enjoyed by him as children revel in the enjoy-
ment of a holyday. In the Church of Rome he
would have had the credit of being wealthy in
works of supererogation. He imitated, on a
miniature scale, the great apostle of the Gen-
tiles, and was " in labours more abundant :"
and why ? He was in his Master's work, as
St. John was in his Lord's salbath, " in the
Spirit ;" and in the spirit of the thing itself, too,
he was always found.

His zeal, however, as has already appeared,
was not a mere crackling blaze in the pulpit.
His workshop was his chapel, and many were
the homilies which he delivered over the anvil
and over the vice, to both rich and poor. In
this he was no respecter of persons. He looked
upon every human being as possessed of an im-
mortal spirit ; depraved by nature ; redeemed
by Christ ; within the reach of mercy ; and him-
self as accountable to God for the improvement
or non-improvement of opportunities of useful-
ness to them ; and hence, to repeat his own lan-
guage, he " was always at them," because al-
ways yearning over them in melting compassion
Adverting to the more early part of his history

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 95

he observes, " At this time I feared no man, but
loved all ; for I wanted all to enjoy what I felt.
I remember Lord Mexborough calling at my
shop one day to get his horse shod. The horse
was a fine animal. I had to back him into the
smithy. I told his lordship that he was more
highly favoured than our Saviour, for he had
Jonly an ass to ride on, when he was upon
earth." The earl suspecting that Samuel was
not very well instructed in natural history, re-
plied, " In the country where our Saviour was
born, the people had rarely any thing but asses
to ride upon ; and many of them were among
the finest animals under heaven, standing from
sixteen to seventeen hands high." This infor-
mation was new ; and as grateful apparently
for the improved condition of his divine Master,
as for an increase of knowledge, Samuel ex-
claimed, " Bless the Lord ! 1 am glad to hear
that ; I thought they were like the asses in
our own country." Samuel's simplicity might
excite a smile ; but there were other biblical
subjects, which gave him a superiority over
many of his more learned fellow creatures.
The Bible was better. known by him as a revela-
tion of God, on subjects of a spiritual and ex-
perimental nature, than as an historical record.*

* It is stated that Dr. Doddridge, while engaged with his
Expositor, was in the habit of consulting one of the old
members of his church on those texts of Scripture, which
contain in them the heights and depths of Christian ex-
perience— conduct equally complimentary to the doctor's
condescension and the venerable man's piety. The doctor,
though a pious man himself, knew that experimental religion

96 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

While Samuel was engaged with the horse,
the earl, says he, " sat down on the steady
clog," and with great condescension and fami-
liarity, entered into conversation with him. " I
am inclined to think, my good man," said the
noble visitant, " that you know something of
futurity. Pray, what becomes of the soul
when it leaves the body ?" As Samuel had
no doubt of the divine authority of the Scrip-
tures himself, he took it for granted — more
from the strength of his own faith, than pre-
suming upon it out of courtesy, as St. Paul
might have done in the case of Agrippa, when
there was no evidence to the contrary — that
the earl was also a believer in their truth, and
proceeded to state, that, in the times of old,
■ there was a certain rich man, which was
clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared
sumptuously every day — that this man died
and was buried — that, though the bodv was
committed to the dust, the soul was sent to
hell — that both would remain till the morning
of the resurrection — and that, at that period,
the body and soul, which had shared in each
other's wickedness, should also share in the

was progressive in its character and operations, and beheld
his hoary auditor as having many years the advance of him
— beheld him like mellow fruit ready to drop off, or to be
plucked for heaven. He was aware that he himself wanted
ape and sunning for several passages ; and although he
brought all the experience he possessed to bear upon them,
he suspected there was still something beyond. To his
own head, he required the advantage of the old man's heart ;
and united knowledge and experience tell upon the under-
standings and nfTortions of o'hrrs.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 97

miseries of the damned, and the smoke of their
torments would ascend for ever and ever : —
that there was likewise a poor man named
Lazarus, which was laid at the rich man's
gate, full of sores — that he died too — that
angels carried his soul to Abraham's bosom —
that the soul would remain there till the great
archangel's trumpet should sound, when rich
and poor, small and great, should stand before
God — and that the soul and body which shared
in each other's sufferings upon earth, would
share in each other's joys in heaven." It never
entered into Samuel's mind to inquire whether
the narrative came in the shape of a history, or
of a parable ; and neither was it indeed neces-
sary to his purpose, as parable is the represen-
tation of truth — truth in the spirit, though not in
the letter : nor had he any thing else in view —
unless it were that of making the subject speak
through the " rich man" to his noble auditor—
than to establish, in the best way he was able,
the existence of the soul, and the doctrine of
future rewards and punishments. If the cha-
racter before him had been such as to have
admitted an approach to the probationary cha-
racter of the " rich man," a thorough knowledge
of Samuel's intellectual powers would at once
have destroyed the supposition of any thing
like design to institute a parallelism ; and yet,
there were few subjects — considering his own
piety and station in society, and the exalted
rank of the interrogator — more calculated to
fix attention, or that could better afford ground

7

98 THE VILLAGE BLACK8M1TH.

for reflection and inference. The earl re-
marked that lie was of the same opinion with
Samuel himself on the subject of a future
state, and wished the whole world possessed
the same faith.

I laving thus received a little encouragement,
Samuel proceeded to show that something more
was implied in faith than a bare assent to the
doctrines of the Bible ; and to guard the earl
against any error, gave him an account of his
experience, which was as artless in its design
and detail as that of St. Paul's was seasonable
in the presence of Agrippa. In evidence that
it was taken in good feeling, " he stopped,"
says Samuel, " till I related it, and gave me half-
a-crown for preaching this short sermon to him."

Not long after this, he was planned to preach
at Methley, and had some of the servants of the
salne nobleman for his hearers, to one of whom
— a female — he was uncle. Partly out of respect
to Samuel, and partly to his niece, the servants
united in inviting him to spend the evening
with them at the Hall. But before he could com-
ply with the request, he had a piece of casuistry
to settle with his own conscience. The Earl
and the family were in the metropolis, and he
could not conceive how he could live at the
noble proprietor's expense, without his consent,
and remain guiltless. This point was soon
disposed of, by the servants informing him, that,
during the absence of the family, they were
" living at board wages." " When I knew that
they could keep me at their own expense," he

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 99

observes, " I went with them, and stopped all
night." This was one of those punctilious
movements in social life, which would have
escaped the notice of multitudes, but upon
which the eye of an enlightened conscience —
the guardian of property — instantly flashed, and
through which the Christian was commanded
to pause and inquire before he advanced. In
the course of the next morning Samuel was
shown through the rooms ; but of all that he
saw, not any thing attracted his attention or
made an impression equal to a painting of Joseph
and Mary, the latter of whom was placed upon
an ass, with the infant Jesus. He instantly
recollected his conversation with the noble
owner of the mansion, and knowing little of
books, very innocently, and not unnaturally for
a person of his cultivation, considered this
painting as the source from whence the earl
derived his knowledge. " It was one of the
finest creatures," says he, " I ever saw ; and I
thought my lord got his information from it."
Then, instead of indulging in what was passing
before the eye, he breaks away in a tangent,
and shows where his heart is, by adding in the
next sentence, " I am informed that his lord-
ship has family prayer, morning and evening ;#

* This nobleman died in the course of last winter, (1830,)
and was succeeded in his titles and in his estates by his
son, Lord Pollington. It was to Earl Mexborough that the
village of Thorner, in which the late Rev. John Pawson was
born and is buried, belonged : and his kindness and benevo-
lence as a master and a landlord were not the only excel-
lences for which he was beloved, and for which he is still
had in vemembiance.

281162

100 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

and I fully believe, that if Christians of all de-
nominations were faithful to the grace glven>
both rieh and poor would be saved. I am
privileged with getting into the company of
gentlemen, and I never let these opportunities
slip. I consider it a privilege to speak a word
for my Master, whom I so dearly love."

It will be easy to perceive, that his associa-
tion with persons of distinguished rank only
extended to transactions in business, and that
not any thing more than this is intended by
himself; a circumstance which tends not a
little to elevate his piety above all earthly con-
siderations, as many in a similar situation to
himself would have shrunk from the discharge
of what appeared to him to be a Christian duty,
from a dread of suffering in business by giving
offence to their employers. An instance of his
fidelity in this respect — and by no means a so-
litary one — was exemplified in his conduct to-
ward Air. Wh — t — n,* whose horse had lost a
shoe in the heat of the chase. Having had
the horse in the hands of another blacksmith
only the day before, and being interrupted in
his enjoyments, he swore at :he man for having,
as he supposed, put on the shoe so carelessly.
Samuel turned to the squire, and without
further ceremony, told him, that he paid the

* The widow and family of this gentleman resided at
Aberford. Speaking of the lady, " Samuel," says Mr.
Dawson. " stood very high in her estimation. He had full
liberty to inform her of any case of distress which came
under his observation; and on information being given, he
was frequently made her almoner."

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 101

rent of the shop — that while it was in his hand
he would not suffer any man to take the name
of God in vain within its walls — and that if he
persisted in swearing, he would not set the
shoe on. He availed himself of the gentle-
man's anxiety to return to the field, and the
gentleman knowing that his enjoyment de-
pended solely on his attention to the prohibition
which had just been issued, very prudently de-
sisted. The compassion of Samuel was excited
both for the horse and for the rider. " The
poor animal," says he, " could scarcely stand
till I set the shoe on; and while I was shoeing
him, I began to preach, and said, ' It is a pity,
sir, that these good creatures should ever be
abused.' " Mr. W., passing over the rebuke he
had received for swearing, and finding, as he
believed, the ground on which he stood as a
hunter, somewhat more tenable than that on
which he stood as a swearer, replied, " The
dogs were made on purpose to hunt the fox,
and the horse to follow the dogs." " God,"
said Samuel, who felt that the honour of his
Maker was interested, " God was never the
author of sin. He sent these creatures for the
use of man, not to be abused by him. But the
time will come, sir, when the hounds will not
run after the foxes." Mr. W., either not ap-
prehending his meaning, or disposed to amuse
himself with the reply, asked, " Do you really
think that such a time will ever arrive ?" " Yes,
sir," returned Samuel : " it will come, as sure
as God made the world ; for he has prophesied

102 THF. VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

that the lion shall lie down with the lamb, and
that all flesh shall know him, from the least to
the greatest." The shoe having been replaced,
a period was put to the conversation, when
.Mr. W. very pleasantly tendered him some
silver, which he refused to accept, Baying, " I
only charge a poor man twopence, and I shall
charge you, sir, no more." The difference
which Samuel observed between Earl Mcx-
borough and Mr. W. — having accepted silver
from the former for a similar ollice, and declined
receiving it from the latter — shows the acute-
nest and discrimination occasionally manifested
by him. " Did he," said Samuel to the biogra-
pher, some years after, when relating the cir-
eumstance in reference to Mr. W., " Did he
think that I was going to give up my chance
al him for half-a-crown ?" — thus renouncing
every thing which in his estimation was cal-
culated to deprive him of the privilege of free-
dom of remark, and rebuke — though un-
doubtedly erroneous in the supposition, that
Mr. W. had any need to have recourse to the
gift as a bribe. Mr. W. soon remounted, and
set off" to pursue the chase. On his return, he
pointed Samuel out to the party that accom-
panied him, as he passed the shop, and enter-
tained them with his notions of the Millennium.
A few days after Mr. W. on again passing the
shop on his way to the field, endeavoured to
divert himself at Samuel's expense, by asking
with some degree of pleasantry, " Well, do
you think the dogs will run the foxes to-day ln

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 703

" O yes, sir," replied Samuel, with unexpected
smartness, " the Jews are not brought in yet."
Mr. W. seemed to have possessed as much
millennial knowledge as enabled him to com-
prehend Samuel's meaning, and rode off like a
person who had been shot at by the archers.

He was pretty generally known by the
sportsmen of the neighbourhood, and few of
them, though partly dependant upon them for
employment, remained unreproved by him.
earl C— th — t was one, among others, who
had felt the force of some of his sayings, and
who enjoyed their effects upon others. The
earl had an opportunity of this kind furnished,
when several gentlemen were waiting one
morning for the hounds. " They met anent
(opposite) my shop," says Samuel, " and stop-
ped till the hounds came." Among the party-
were the Hon. C. C — , vicar of K — , the earl's
brother ; the Rev. W— , rector of G — ; the
late Rev. C — , vicar of A — ; and Dr. E— , who
followed the medical profession at K — . " It
came into my mind," continues Samuel, " that
the three clergymen had no business there." His
movements generally corresponding with the
rapidity of his thoughts, he instantly " threw
down the hammer and the tongs," darted out
of the shop door, like an animal from a thicket
of underwood, and appeared in the midst of
them with his shirt sleeves turned up, his apron
on, his face and hands partaking of the hue of
his employment — as fine game, in the estima-

104 THE VILLAGE I'.I. ACKS.M ITU.

tion of some of them, lo occupy the lingering
moments, till other game .should be started, as
any that could present itself in human shape.
" Most of them," says he, " knew me. I said
to them, Gentlemen, this is one of the finest
hunts in the district. You are favoured with
two particular privileges ; and thev are privi-
leges which other districts have not." This
excited curiosity, which was as quickly grati-
fied ; for the inquiry relative to f* privilege #"
was no sooner proposed, than the answer was
given — " If any of you should happen to slip
the saddle, and get a fall, you have a doctor to
bleed you, and three parsons to pray for you :
and what are these but privileges ? Threk
parsons ! O yes, there they are."* The odd
association produced in the minds of some of

* The throe reverend gentlemen were not equally impli-
cated in an adherence to the chase. With one — the first —
it had become a passion ; and though possessed of othpr
good qualities, especially benevolence to the poor, yet so
much did the turf engross his attention that he thought very
little of setting off for Doncaster and Pontcfract races after
service was over on a Sunday. The second was not re-
markable for following the fox-hounds, and is supposed to
have proceeded little further than that of attending to see
them " throw off." Greyhound coursing was less objection-
able, as being less hazardous. The third, the late Mr. C,
like the first, was a genuine lover of the sports of the field.
He received, however, what would have been sufficient as a
rebuke for others, before he left the world to give an account
of his apostleship. On a shooting excursion, his dogs, as
usual — having been well trained — set some partridges ; the
birds started, and flew over a hedge, behind which his
servant was standing ; he fired : — whether or not he winged
a bird, is not for the writer to state, but it is well known
that he killed his sen-ant.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 105

the gentlemen, between hunting and devotion —
the huntsman's shout and the clergyman's
prayer, the inconsistency of which not a few
had light sufficient to perceive, and of which,
by the way, we are furnished with a somewhat
similar ridiculous appearance in some of our
cathedrals and churches, where some of the
ancient knights — not very remarkable for prayer
during life — are represented as praying in
marble, booted and spurred, clad in armour,
with uplifted hands, about to rise to the victor's
heaven, of which — abstractedly considered —
the Bible knows as much as that of the hunter's
—this odd association operated powerfully upon
the risible faculties, and turned the laugh upon
the clergymen, who, in the language of Samuel.
" lowered their heads, and never spoke a word
in their own defence," though forward enough
at other times, and with open front too, to con-
demn him for occupying any share of the priest's
office. But right and truth give one man an
amazing advantage over another ; guilt stands
abashed in the presence of innocence ; a child,
under peculiar circumstances, becomes a Her-
cules, and wields truth — though in irony— like
Elijah, with all the power of the imaginary
deity's club. Towards one of the divines
Samuel experienced an unusual leaning of
spirit ; for he states, that it was " under Mr.
C — , of A—, that" his " dear mother was con-
verted to God in A — b — d church. The word
preached," he proceeds, " proved the power of
God to her soul's salvation. She died happy

]06 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

in God. I do not know that she ever heard a
Methodist sermon in her life."*

A nobleman who occasionally courted re-
mark from Samuel, and who was more disposed
to tease than to injure him, having told him that
lie ought to be surcharged for placing a saddle
on his cart-horse on the Lord's day; he imme-
diately threw back upon his noble implicator
the mischiefs of the chase ; stating, that there
would be a greater propriety in surc/it/rtri?ig his
lordship himself for breaking down the hedges

* To argue from hence, that a Christian minister is at
liberty to pursue what line of conduct he pleases, because
the Divine Bern? may vouchsafe to honour his ministry
with success, as though he thereby sanctioned the proceed-
ings of the man, would be absurd. Truth, and the medium
of its conveyance, are two distinct things — as much so as
the water and the conduit through which it passes ; nor are
any of the cleansing effects or refreshing qualities of the
water to be attributed to the instrument of communication,
as any other medium of conveyance, whether of wood, lead,
or silver, would have equally served the purpose, and the
effects had been produced as t asily without as with the one
employed. This may be carried even a little further; for it
would be no difficult, matter to prove, that ministerial fruit is
not an exclusive proof of a call to the ministry. Open this
door, and the greatest latitude is given to female preaching.
Fruit — independent of other evidence — is only a proof of the
power of truth — not a call to preach it. Truth belongs to
God, and he will honour his own truth whoever may be the
instrument employed to deliver it. Should the instrument
himself be unconverted, he w ill receive the honour which the
scaffolding receives from the builder, when it has served his
purpose, in contributing its share to the completion of the
erection — bo thrown aside as constituting no part of the
goodly edifice. This is not intended to apply to the clergy-
man in question, however much out of place in the field, but
to protect the simple-hearted from deducing false inferences
from apparently legitimate, but, in point of fact, otherwise
false premisi 8.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 107

of the farmer, than that he should be surcharged
for saddling his horse, riding peaceably along
the king's highway, and going about doing good
by preaching the gospel. The law of the case
was not what occurred to Samuel : he looked
at it with the eyes of a Christian, without con-
necting with it for the moment, the relation in
which he stood to the British Constitution as a
subject ; and although he would have yielded to
no man in point of loyalty, and no man was
more ready to pay the taxes imposed upon by
government than himself; yet this was a case,
like many others, of which he could only see
one bearing ; and that was a bearing of hardship.
The naked principles of good and evil arranged
themselves on opposite sides, and so completely
was his mind absorbed with these, that all the
reasoning that could have been employed, would
never have made the subject appear otherwise
than as unreasonable to him — that one man
should be permitted to do evil, and that another,
from the purest motives, at. his own cost, and
with his own horse, should not be permitted to
proceed in his own way to do good, without an
extra charge. To have suggested that his lord-
ship had to pay for his pleasure, by a tax upon
both his dogs* and horses, would not have re-

* It would have been a little amusing to have witnessed
Samuel's feelings, and heard his remarks on the following
items occasioned by British devotion to dogs. In a parlia-
mentary paper, ordered to be printed, it appears that the
total number of dogs of different descriptions (exclusive of
packs of hounds) upon which duty was paid in the United
Kingdom, during the year ending 5th April, 1829, was

108 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

moved the impression of hardship from the
mind of Samuel. His logic was simple and
untrammelled by legal subtleties. His reply
would have been, that his lordship had no right
to do evil, though he paid for it — that creation
belonged to his divine Master — that man was
tn misery — that he himself, as a servant of the
Most High, was commanded to do good unto
all men — and that, to the performance of acts
of mercy, not only should " every let or hin-
derance" be removed out of the way, but every
person should contribute to the furtherance of
such work — forgetting that if all were contri-
butors, there would be an end to receivers — and
that in forming laws for the multitude, it was
impossible so to construct them as not, in certain
cases and under certain circumstances, to bear
hard upon a few individuals. If any class of
men had aright to institute a claim to exemption
from such a tax, it was such men as Samuel
Hick; and had our legislators deemed exemption
prudent, there is no doubt that to such men it
would have been extended.

Many of the circuits continued very exten-
sive long after Samuel was admitted on the local
preachers' plan, and such were his " outgo-

353.058. The amount of duty paid upon them was 187,581/.
The packs of hounds upon which duty was paid amounted
to G9 ; the duty on each being 36/, the sum total amounted
to 2,181/. The duty paid upon dogs within the bills of mor-
tality was 15,307/. — To have given a rough calculation of
not only the tax upon hounds and horses, but the expenses
of purchase, keep, keepers, &c, Samuel would have pitied
the man who could spend so much upon so little.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 109

ings," occasioned by the ardour of his zeal,
that a horse became absolutely necessary, in
order to enable him to accomplish his " labours
of love." As an exemplification of part of his
toil and of his treatment, he observes, " In
those days there were not many noble, not
many rich called. For my own part, I have
travelled many scores of miles, and neither
tasted meat nor drink till I got home [in the
evening.] I have very often had snowballs
thrown at me, and been abused by the enemies
of the cross of Christ : I have been tufned out
of places where I have been preaching, by the
clergy and the magistrates : but, bless the Lord,
I have lived to see better days." After noticing
the cessation of persecution, he again, by a
sudden transition of thought, turns to his favourite
subject — the grand Millennium, which appears
like a vision breaking upon his " gifted sight,"
and " more golden bright than the rich morn on
Carmel" — in a vision often repeated, in which
there was to him, in the language of the poet,
" a mingling of all glorious forms" — of " angels
riding upon cloudy thrones, and saints marching
all abroad like crowned conquerors :" nor had
the fair poetical Jewess, so finely portrayed by
Milman, in his " Fall of Jerusalem," more de-
lightful visions, when " nightly visitations"
poured over her mind, " like the restless waters
of some pure cataract in the noontide sun," than
had Samuel Hick of " the latter-day glory,"
toward which he was constantly turning, like
the sun-flower, toward the orb of day, and in

J 10 THL VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

the splendours of which he was constantly bask-
ing and brightening.

Whatever might have been the length of the
journey, and whatever the fare with which he
was treated, the spirit of Samuel remained un-
broken, his gratitude unabated. He had bread
to cat of which the world had no knowledge ;
the religion of the soul appeared to bear up the
animal frame, and to render it frequently insen-
sible to pain, and want, and toil. The hut
afforded him higher entertainment than the
dwellings of the wealthy. The following re-
lation lurnishes an insight into his spirit. " I
remember,'' says he, " I was planned to preach
at Hemsworth* once, and being a stranger in
the town, I inquired where the Methodist
preachers put up their horses. I was informed
that there was not any body in the place that
would take them in ; but that a poor man re-
ceived them at the common side. I went to
my inn, and found a place to put up my horse,
which they had built on purpose for the preachers'
horses. When I got into the house, I soon
found that the poor people had Jesus Christ with
them. They were glad to see me, and to re-
ceive both me and my horse. These dear
friends had a great many enemies, because of
their taking in the preachers. The people

* In 1811 and 1812, when the writer was in the habit of
visiting the village, in which there was then a neat Wesleyan
chapel, it was in I he Bamsley circuit. At the period re-
ferred to by Samuel, it was probably connected with Leeds
Wakefield, or Pontefract. Il is about six miles from Pon
tefract, and fifteen from Mrcklefield.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. Ill

who had supplied them with milk refused to
let them have any more ; and the publicans
would not let them have yeast for their bread.
They were also in a strait for food for the
preachers' horses. The poor woman begged a
few land ends of grass, got it dried, and pre-
served it ; and she gleaned a little corn in the
fields. She made us very comfortable. Some
time after this, I was again planned for the
same place. The Lord had opened the hearts
of some of the farmers, and they opened their
houses ; but I went to my old inn at the com-
mon side. The woman cried for joy to see me.
She said she was sorely troubled, because the
preachers had left her house : but I told her not
to be troubled about it — that she would get her
reward for her labour of love. I went to the
same place about thirty years after this, and
found the same widow. She was very happy
in her soul. We see that the Lord is as good
as his promise, ' Them that honour me I will
honour' — ' With long life will I satisfy' them,
' and show' them ' my salvation.' She was
very glad to see me ; and I told her that I would
put her into my life for a memorial of her love
to the preachers and their beasts. It was like
the widow's mite."

The simplicity of the man is at jnce seen, in
telling the aged matron that she should occupy
a place in the memoir of his life ; and that he
intended nothing more in what he termed his
" Life," than to show forth the goodness of God
to himself and others, will readily be credited •

112 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

nor shall his innocent intentions, though border-
ing upon the childishness of simplicity, in re-
ference to the poor widow, cease to be fulfilled
to the very letter. " Ruth the Moabitess" did
not cleave closer to " Gon" and his "people"
than did this poor woman ; nor did the young
widow appear more interesting to Boaz among
the " reapers," than did this gleaner in the corn-
fields to Samuel Hick. He, however, in con-
soling her for the loss of the preachers, seemed
to be unaware that he was furnishing a sub-
stantial reason, in his notice of some of the
farmers having " opened their houses," why
they should take up their abode elsewhere ; a
point upon which many would have fastened,
and would from thence have argued the pro-
priety of relieving her of a burden — though
deemed by her a privation — which she had so
long and so nobly borne, and which others,
now made willing in the day of gospel power,
were equally ready, and much more able to
bear than herself. For complimentary as it had
been for a poor widow, like her of Zarephath,
whose " cake" and " cruse" never failed, to
supply the wants of the prophets of the Lord,
it would have reflected little honour on the more
wealthy to have looked on with a stupid in-
difference, and to have permitted its con-
tinuance. Some of the very first expressions
uttered by the new-born soul are, " What shall
we do ?" These are the mere nursery ex-
pressions of the babe, in reference to the cause
of God. Some persons, it is true — not very

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMiTH H'3

remarkable for self-denial, or turning the good
things of this life aside when within their
reach — would have availed themselves of the
opportunity of exuding a little bad feeling, by
insinuating that the preachers were always on
the alert to better their condition. But the very
fact of their having stooped so long to lodge in
the hovel, of their readiness to accommodate
themselves to any fare, however scanty, and
to any situation, however humble, while labour-
ing to promote the happiness of their fellow-
creatures, shows that they carried about with
them the spirit of self-denial, and have it yet at
hand whenever Providence opens the door and
bids them enter: and the wailings of the widow
for their loss are evidence of their worth ; for,
having been cheered by their presence, their
advice, and their prayers, on the social hearth-
stone, she sighed and wept at their removal ;
and sighed the more, as she valued their
society.

Samuel took his own way of consoling her,
and directed her attention to the " recompense
of reward" for what she had done. And it was
here, both as to subject and place, that he was
in his element. To behold him thus, in one of
his happiest moods, the reader has only to
sketch a thatched cottage, tottering, like its in-
mate, with age ; its whitewashed walls and mud
floor ; a few homely pieces of furniture, impaired
by long-continued use ; Samuel himself seated
upon the remains of an old oaken chair, on the
opposite side of the fire to the good old woman ;

8

114 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

there talking' of the joys of the heaven to which
they weTe bolh hastening, throwing a beam of
sunshine into the heart of her with whom he
conversed, and which seemed dead within her,
till he stirred it into life. Now he crouched
forward, with the crown of his head toward
the fire — his eyes fixed upon the ground — his
elbows occasionally supported by his knees —
the palms of his hands turned upward — his
thumbs and fore-fingers in constant motion, as
though he were in the act of rubbing some fine
powder between them, in order to ascertain the
quality; or like some of our elderly matrons at
the distaff, twisting the fibres of the flax into a
thread — dropping for a moment the conversa-
tion— next chiming in with a few notes of
praise — again taking up the theme of Christ and
future glory — his face meanwhile glistening
through the rising emotions of his soul — his
hands now gliding into quicker action — the
fountains of the beating heart breaking up — till
at length, elevating his frame, and with his
eyes brimming with tears, he seems to throw,
by a single glance, all the tenderness of his soul
into the bosom of the object of his solicitude,
which at once softens, animates, and transfixes
the eye of the beholder in grateful return upon
himself for the conversational benefits thus con-
ferred.

One of the cases to which Samuel refers,
when he states he had been " turned out of
places by the clergy," occurred in his own
neighbourhood. On the death of Lady Betty

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 115

Hastings, and the termination of the Rev. W.
Sellon's labours at Ledsham, the living was
given to a young clergyman, in a delicate state
of health, who came from London to take pos-
session, and who, in his first sermon, made a
warm attack upon enthusiasm, and denied the
influences of the Holy Ghost, stating, that there
had been no such thing as inspiration in the
world since the apostolic age. To this he
might have been led, from a persuasion that
the people had been deluded into the belief of
such things through the mistaken piety, as he
supposed, of her ladyship, and the preaching
of his predecessors. But while thus proclaim-
ing his own nakedness of soul, of every hal-
lowed influence, the poor people, " clothed
with the Spirit of holiness," were better in-
structed, and instead of being satisfied with this
collegian, sent for the " Village Blacksmith,"
to build them up in the faith of Christ.*

* The people's choice, in this case, must remind tliosb
who are acquainted with the facts of Mr. Baxter's account,
in the Preface to his Disputations, pp. 186-7, of the election
of Alexander. When Gregory conferred with the church
respecting the choice of a pastor, several of the people were
for having a man of rank and splendid abilities ; but re
collecting that the prophet anointed David, a shepherd, to be
king over Israel, he requested them to look among the lower
orders of society, and to see whether a person could not be
found, possessed of piety and ministerial qualifications.
This was received with indignation by several of the in-
habitants of Comana ; and one lofty-spirited gentleman,
whose views as little accorded with those of Gregory as
they would have done with those of the little Christian flock
at Ledsham, in after ages, told the worthy bishop, byway of
derision, that if he wished ihem to take a person from the
scum ol the people, they might as well select Alexander the

116 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

Samuel yielded to their entreaties ; hut found
it difficult to obtain a house to preach in, as
nearly every house was under clerical in-
fluence, and those who sent for him were afraid
of incurring the clergyman's displeasure. A
good woman at length obtained the consent of
her husband to lend their house for the occasion,
indifferent to consequences. A congregation
was soon assembled, and Samuel commenced
with singing and prayer. During the second
hymn, a noise was heard at the door, when
Samuel left his stand, and went to inquire into
the cause. He was met at the entrance by
the clergyman, accompanied by another gen-
tleman, to whom he announced himself as the
preacher.

Clergyman. " We want none of your preach-
ing here,' and are resolved not to have it."

Samuel. " Sir, I preached the gospel here

collier from their ranks. Gregory took the hint, and sent
for Alexander, who appeared before them, ragged in his
apparel, and besmeared, like Samuel, with the filth of his
employment, exciting the laughter of the less sedate among
the assembly. The bishop soon perceived him to be a man
of both talent and piety ; and after withdrawing with him,
and instructing him how to act, returned to the assembly,
and delivered a discourse on the nature of the pastoral office.
It was not long before Alexander, who was a comely-look-
ing man, was again presented to the brethren, washed, and
ai tired in the canonicals of the episcopal order, and was
• sen — collier as he had been — bishop of Comana, with
only one dissenting voice ! Though there is no doubt, that
Alexander was by far Samuel's superior in point of intellect,
vet the coal, the smoke, and the soot had an amazing m-
lluence on the more elegant in both cases ; and the Wesley an
body was as great a h?lp to the latter as Gregory was to th»
former.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 117

before you were born, and I will live to preach
it when you are gone."

Cler. " I tell you, I will not suffer you to
preach here. This house is my property."

Sam. " Why, sir, you do not preach the
gospel to the people, for you deny inspiration ;
and no man can preach it but by inspiration of
the Spirit of God."

Cler. " I discharge you from preaching in
this house."

To this authority Samuel reluctantly sub-
mitted, as it would have been imprudent to en-
courage the occupants to persist in resisting their
landlord : the people were therefore dismissed.
The clergyman, however, mistook his opponent,
if he concluded that the field was his own ,
for though the preacher was driven from the
house, he was not driven from his purpose.
On returning home, he wrote a long, faithful
letter to the reverend gentleman ; informing
him, in connection with the admonitions sent,
that on the following sabbath he should again
visit Ledsham — occupy a piece of waste land
in the village, to which he could lay no claim,
as it belonged to the lord of the manor — and
should there, in his own cart, preach to the
people ; giving him an invitation at the same
time to attend, and to correct him in any thing
he might advance contrary to the Scriptures or
the Book of Common Prayer. As he made no
secret of either his letter or his intentions, the
report of his visit to Ledsham, in defiance of
the newly inducted minister, soon spread among

118 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

the neighbouring villagers. The day arrived —
the people flocked to the place from a circle of
some miles. Samuel, after unyoking his horse,
appeared in his cart, occupying it as a pulpit
for the occasion, accompanied by four local
preachers — the air rang with the song of praise
— and a gracious influence attended the word.
The clergyman and his lady stood at a distance
hearkening to what was said. Samuel, to-
ward the close, told them that he loved the
Church, and hoped that, " as soon as the bells"
gave " over tinkling" they would accompany
him, and join in its service. " We all went,"
he observed, " and I never saw a church so
full in my life. The aisles, the communion-
place, and bell-house, were all crammed full.
What was best of all, the clerk was on our side,
and gave out a hymn tune. Such glorious
music I never heard in a church before. The
parson, poor young man ! was overfaced with
us, and could not preach ; so that he had to
employ another person." As a substitute is not
so easily obtained, in an emergency of this kind,
in the Establishment as among the Dissenters,
it is probable that the person was prepared for
the duties of the day, independent of this cir-
cumstance, and that Samuel attributed to the
congregation that which originated in indispo-
sition. This is the more likely, from what
Samuel adds: — "The poor young man went
off to London next, morning, where he died, and
was brought back to be buried about six months
after." This fact, taken in connection with

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 119

Samuel's declaration, " I preached the gospel
here before you were born, and .will live to
preach it when you are gone," falls upon the
heart with peculiar solemnity. It ought not be
omitted, that the clergyman beckoned the
churchwarden to him after the service, and
stated that he had inquired into the character
of the old blacksmith — found that he was a
very good man — and wished him to be in-
formed from himself, that he might preach in
the village whenever he judged proper.

CHAPTER VI.

His qualifications for soliciting pecuniary aid — An un-
successful application to a clergyman — Relieves his circuit
from a debt of seventy pounds — His anxiety to obtain a
chapel at Aberford — A miser, and his manner of addressing
him — A chapel erected — Contests with different avaricious
characters — A visit to Rochdale — Administers seasonable
relief to a preacher's family — His Scriptural views of charity
— Supplies a poor family with coals — Regales part of a
company of soldiers on a forced march — An amusing do-
mestic scene — Visitation of the sick — Gives up the use of
tobacco from principle — His indisposition, and inattention
to the advice of his medical attendant — The good effects of
his state of mind upon others — Raises a subscription for a
poor man — Relieves a poor female — His love to the mis-
sionary cause — Origin of missionary meetings among the
Wesleyans.

Such was the native restlessness of Samuel's
character, that, like quicksilver, the slightest
impulse propelled and continued him in motion.
With the exception of sleep, or the utter ex-
haustion of his physical powers he scarcely

120 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

know a pause in the work of God. This
promptitude to he serviceable to others, the
general esteem in which he was held, together
with a peculiar fitness lor benevoleat enter-
prise— the latter of which was founded on his
own generosity — his simplicity of manners, a
certain straightforwardness, which knew no
fear, and saw no difficulties, rendered him a
desirable person to engage in any purpose of
soliciting pecuniary aid. Accordingly, he was
selected by a committee formed for the occasion,
and was commissioned to go through the circuit
in which he resided, to collect subscriptions in
order to relieve it from its financial embarrass-
ments. Clothed with proper authority, and
furnished with a book in which to enter the
names of his subscribers, he went forth with
the freshness and spirit of the husbandman
entering for the first time in the season into the
harvest-field. He saw the fields white, and in
his view had nothing to do but put in the sickle.
He found few obstructions ; and among those
few — created, by the way, by his own impru-
dence— he records one which may he consi-
dered more amusing than vexatious.

" I went to Ricall," says he ; " and as I pur-
posed going to all the houses in the town, I
thought there would be no harm in calling upon
the Church clergyman. 1 did so; and found
him in his garden. I presented my book, which
he gave me again, and looked at me." The
look would have had a withering effect upon
many of Samuel's superiors ; hut the same spirit

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 121

and views which emboldened him to make the
application, supported him in the rebuff with
which he met. " I am surprised," said the
clergyman, " that you should make such a re-
quest ; that you should ask me to support dis-
senters from the Church of England !" Samuel
instantly interposed with, " No, sir, we are not
dissenters ; the church has dissented from us.
The Methodists are good churchmen, where
the gospel is preached. And as for myself, I
never turned my back on a brief when I went
to church." Though wiser heads than his
own would have found it difficult to charge dis-
senterism upon the Church, except from Popery,
he was correct in his denial of the application
of the epithet to the Methodist body. The
retort Was more equitably supported when he
defended himself, by adding, to his reverence,
" I think there is no more harm in you helping
to support us, than there is in us helping to
support you." The clergyman here very pro-
perly took shelter under the wing of the state —
his only ground of defence — by replying, " You
are obliged to support us ; the law binds you to
do it.'' Samuel, in return, resorted to the only
code of laws with which he had any acquaint-
ance, and which he consulted daily — the
Christian code — saying, " Ours is a law of
love ; and if we cannot all think alike, we must
all love alike." He concludes, on retiring with
his Wesleyan " brief,'1'1 which met with a
better reception elsewhere, " We parted after a
long contest ; and although I did not get any

122 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

money from him, I would not have taken five
shillings for my cause ;" or, as in all probability
he meant, the opportunity he had just had of
pleading and supporting it.

His summary of his labours, treatment, and
success, during the remainder of his tour, is
worthy of notice : " I had a very good time in
going around the circuit — had very kind friends
— preached and prayed — and got seventy pounds
toward the debt. While employed in this
noble work, I got my own soul blessed ; and I
grew like a willow by the waterside. I got
many a wet shirt, and many a warm heart ; and
while I was begging for money, I did not for-
get to pray for the souls of my fellow-creatures."

Some money which had been lent upon a
chapel in the neighbourhood some time after
this, being about to be called in, Samuel felt
very uncomfortable lest the sum should not be
forthcoming when required. Relief seemed to
present itself in a moment, while musing in his
shop. He laid aside his tools — went into the
house — washed — and attired himself in his
best apparel. His friend, Mr. R., surprised to
see him thus habited, inquired, " Where are
you going, Samuel ?" " I am bown (going) to
Frystone, to get some money for the chapel,"
he replied. " Of whom ?" it was asked. " Of

Mr. ," was rejoined. Mr. R., knowing

the gentleman, and considering him from his
prejudices and habits, to be a very unlikely
person for such an application, endeavoured to
dissuade him from his journey. His entreaties

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 123

were fruitless : Samuel set off — obtained an in-
terview with the gentleman — was courteously
received — and after naming the object of his
mission, the circumstances in which the trus-
tees would be placed, and the nature of the
security, was told that the money was at his
service at any hour. Samuel returned de-
lighted, and it is doubtful, whether any man
besides himself would have obtained relief
from the same source. Mr. R. had given all
up in despair.

Samuel Hick was a man who would not
solicit charities from others, in order to save
himself, or even a loan, which he would not
have cheerfully advanced, provided he had
the amount in his possession. He gave to the
extent of his ability, and might even be asso-
ciated with those of the Corinthians who, " be-
yond their power, were willing of themselves"
to impart gifts to others. Many interesting in-
stances of liberality might be selected from
different periods of his personal history, and
here concentrated. As specimens of others
which must henceforth remain curtained from
earthly gaze, the following charities, without
attending to any chronological arrangement,
will tend to illustrate one of the more important
traits in his character.

He had long looked upon Aberford, his birth-
place, as his Redeemer had beheld Jerusalem
— with the compassionate emotions of a soul
alive to the spiritual dangers and necessities of
the inhabitants. His wish to see a Wesleyan

124 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

chapel erected in it amounted even to anxiety,
if not pain. In the year 1804, his wife had
.£200 left her by a relation. This was placed
by the side of the fruits of his own industry,
and the union gave the appearance of wealth
in humble life. As his property increased, so
did his anxiety for a place of worship at Aber-
ford ; and he at length declared, that if not a
farthing should be contributed by others, rather
than the village should be without a chapel, he
would give the .€200 which he had lately re-
ceived. He stated his views and feelings to
Mr. Rhodes,* and remarked, that he thought he
could procure a piece of ground from a gentle-
man, who, though a Methodist, had not come
so far under the influence of its spirit as to
subdue the covetousness of his nature. f Mr.
Rhodes intimated to him, that he doubted his
success in the direction toward which he was
looking, unless the old gentleman was either
about to die, or some extraordinary change had
taken place in the disposition of his heart.
Samuel was not to be diverted from his pur-
pose : he could have rendered nugatory, by a

* This venerable man, who was living when the 44th
page of the first edition of this memoir was in the press,
has since joined the world of spirits. " He died May 18th,"
says Mr. Dawson, "and entered the same heaven with
Samuel."

t Samuel had some odd notions and expressions relative
to such characters. Looking abroad at the fine feeling of
benevolence which had gone forth, and not often associating
with persons of a parsimonious disposition, lie exclaimed to
a friend one day, " The breed of misers is nearly run out,
and not one of the few that are living dare get married, so
that in n little time we nhVl see no more of tliprr

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 125

single sentence — " The Lord has the hearts of
all men in his own keeping" — all the reason-
ing of the most skilful logician — could have dis-
sipated every doubt like mist before the sun.
Away he proceeded to the late Sir Thomas
Gascoigne, Bart., the lord of the manor, in
order, in the first instance, to obtain permission
to procure stone upon Hook Moor, since without
building materials the land would not have an-
swered his purpose. This was readily granted.
He next proceeded to the gentleman loaded
with " thick clay," who was instinctively led to
raise objections against the proposal. Samuel,
in perfect keeping with the other portions of his
thinkings and remarks, combated every objec-
tion, not in the detail, but with one of his whole-
sale sweeps — " The land is the Lord's; you
are only the occupier ; and the Lord wants some
of his own land to build his own house upon."
Mr. T., who already had the " nine points" in
law on his side, was cot to be subdued by a
single blow in the onset ; nor was Samuel to
abandon himself to despair by the notion of
possession, as he could have instantly conjured
up the argument of death to dispossess the
occupant. Such, however, were the irresistible
appeals of one untutored mind upon another,
such Samuel's importunity, that the miser in
the man actually gave way before him, and the
old gentleman told him, that he thought he
should not live much longer, and would there-
fore let him have the piece of ground which he
had selected for the purpose. Samuel went

126 THE VILLAGE BLA.CK8MITH.

home rejoicing ; but his joy, alas ! was of short
duration ; it was like ihe fold of a cloud, which,
by suddenly opening and rcelosing, only veils
the heavens with additional darkness : the
miser started into life again during his absence,
the proprietor altered his resolution, and every
hope was frosted. All, however, was not lost.
" It is but justice to state," Mr. Dawson ob-
serves, " that though Mr. T. died before a chapel
was erected at Aberford, yet he expressed a
wish to his executors that they should give
five pounds toward such erection, should one
at any future period be built. With this re
quest, though only orally delivered, they cheer
fully complied."

About eight years after this, there was ?
favourable opening for a chapel, which Samuel
promptly embraced. He was desirous, however,
of associating Martha with him in this charity ;
and having more confidence in his God than in
himself, he retired to pray, that her heart might
be prepared for its exercise. On withdrawing
from his privacy, and appearing before her, he
scarcely felt satisfied respecting his success,
and again retired without opening his mind on
the subject. He prayed — he believed — and
rising from his knees, descended from the
chamber in confidence. Martha knew that a
chapel was on the eve of being built ; and the
moment now arrived for ascertaining the tern-
perature of her charity. Samuel opened the
business : " You know, we are bourn to have
a chapel at Aberford, -Matty, and we must give

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 127

something to it ; what do you think it should
be V " Well," returned Martha, whose proper
character only required a fitting occasion for
disclosure, " We mun gee summut haunsom."
Never did music sound sweeter to the human
ear than did this sentence to Samuel, who was
instantly in tears. But there was still a degree
of uncertainty remaining, in reference to the
standard which each had separately, and pri-
vately, fixed upon, as reaching the point, which,
in their circumstances, was deemed something
handsome. Samuel, tLefefor<e, solicitous to come
to a conclusion, asked, " And what shall it
be ?" " Twenty pounds/' replied Martha. This
was almost too much for his feelings, not only
on account of the generosity displayed, but be-
cause it was the very sum upon which he him-
self had previously determined; and the oppor-
tunity for noticing it is the more readily em-
braced, in order to place Martha's character in
a correct light. It was intended as the dwelling-
place of her God — it was a charity in which
immortal spirits were concerned — and was also
to be erected in the birth-place of her husband.
A gentleman farmer undertook the work of
soliciting subscriptions for its erection, and
Samuel had the unspeakable pleasure of seeing
it rise in the face of the sun, vying with all
around it for neatness and accommodation.
Samuel had the honour of laying the first stone,
upon which he devoutly knelt, and most fer-
vently prayed for the blessing of God upon the
house which was to overshadow it : " And as

128 1 jil: village blacksmith.

he o fierce! the first prayer upon the first stone
that was laid;" so, says Mr. Dawson, uin the
pulpit of the same chapel, ho preached his last
tt rmon, and poured forth his last public prayer
lor the prosperity of Zion." The chapel was
crowded on the occasion, and a collection made
by him in the evening, for the purpose of de-
fraying the expense of cleaning, lighting, dec,
which far exceeded any sum that had been ob-
tained for the same object before ; the auditory
thus, both by their attendance and liberality,
rendering that homage which they would have
paid him, had they been certain he was about
to make his exit, and expected to hear him
announce for his farewell address, " Ye shall
see my face no more."

A conquest no less complete, but much more
rapid than the preceding, was one which he
obtained over another son of the earth, in one of
his Yorkshire tours. Having met on former
occasions, they were known to each other, and
as oreat an intimacy subsisted between them
as was possible in the admixture of fine gold
and the coarsest clay. Samuel addressed him
on the behalf of Christian missions, but found
every part of the fortress provided with arms
against any regular and deliberate attack.
Poverty was pleaded — objections to the object
urged — and reasons given why help should be
sought in other quarters. On finding all " special
pleading" ineffectual, and as though aware that
a city, which would be proof against a regular
siege, might nevertheless be taken by surprise,

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 129

he dropped in his accustomed manner upon his
knees, and turning from the miser, directed his
addresses to God. Every sentence was like
inspiration, and penetrated the soul of the miser
like the fire of heaven — withering him with
fear. Impressed apparently with a dread of
the Being before whom he was immediately
brought in prayer, in whose hearing he had
pleaded poverty, though possessed of thousands
of gold and silver, and who could in an instant
as easily take away life as annihilate property,
he exclaimed with hurried vehemence,-^-" Sam,
I'll give thee a guinea, if thou wilt give over."
Samuel, unruffled in his pleadings by the oddity
of the circumstance, and who, in fact, had too
many of his own to be moved by those of
others, and encouraged withal by the symptoms
which appeared, proceeded with earnestness in
his addresses, and changing the subject with
the quickness of thought, told his Maker how
inadequate a guinea was to effect the conver-
sion of the world, and how trifling a sum it was
in return for the thousands which the recipient
had received in the dispensations of Providence.
The miser was again met in an unexpected
way, and in the genuine "love of money," which
seemed to excite a fear lest he should be further
wrought upon by the prayer of the petitioner,
or God should extort from him, in the moment
of excited feeling, more than the selfishness of
his nature would allow, he again roared out, —
" Sam, I tell thee to give over, — I'll give thee
two guineas, if thou wilt only give it up."

9

130 1 Mi: \ II. I. A-. i. BLACKSMITH.

Anxious to maintain his ground, Samuel started
up with the same abruptness with which he
had knelt — held the miser to his word — secured
two notes — and bore them away in triumph to
a missionary meeting about to be held in the
neighbourhood, where he exhibited them on the
platform, with the hiuh-wrought feelings of a
man who had snatched a living child from the
clutch of an ea^le. To be grave in the re-
hearsal or hearing of such facts, is as difficult
as it is to believe in the sincerity of the giver;
and were it not for the general artlessness of
conduct, and disposition manifested by Samuel,
it would have been impossible to view it other-
wise than as a species of dexterous acting,
practised with a view to impose. But a pre-
concerted plan would have spoiled it ; he had
not a mind to carry him forward in such a thing
beyond the length of his own shadow, beneath
a meridian sun ; he was the mere creature
of impulse — knew no mere of plot than a
child.

He was less successful in another case, when
called upon to visit a professor of religion pos-
sessed of from six to eight thousand pounds,
and yet, as a proof of the hollowness of his
professions, would not allow himself the com-
mon necessaries of life. Samuel, having heard
he was dying, and being well acquainted with
him, entered his habitation of wretchedness.
The furniture was poor, and appeared to have
served two or three generations in a regular
ancestral line ; the room was filthy, and the air

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH 131

foetid ; and yet the general survey was less re-
pulsive than the scene in one of the corners of
the room, where the wretched man was lying
on a still more wretchedly dirty bedstead,
covered with an old horse-cloth, and scarcely
an article of linen visible. Samuel was shocked
at the sight, and accosted him, " Man, what art
thou about? Thou hast plenty, — why dost
thou not make chyself comfortable ? Thou wilt
leave thy money to those, happen, that will
make none of the best use of it."* Turning
his dim eye and squalid face toward Samuel,
and thrusting his withered arm from underneath
the filthy coverlet, like the skeleton arm of
death stretching into sight, he pointed his finger
downward and said, " Look there — I do en-
deavour to comfort myself." Samuel inclined
his head, till he was enabled to look beneath
the bed, where he heheld a small phial-bottle,
within one of his shoes, the heel of which was
high enough to support it. " That," added he,
"is a sup° gin." After dealing faithfully with
him, Samuel knelt by his side, and supplicated
Heaven for mercy. "But," said he to a friend

* As a specimen of what he had to expect, and of the
profusion of avarice, the man saw his nephew and heir,
some time prior to this, coming out of a public-house op-
posite to his own, staggering, and throwing off the contents
of a sickened stomach as he crossed the street. " See
thee," said he to his brother, who was sitting beside him,
»' how our money will go when we are gone ; — come, there
is a penny — go thee, and get some ale, and let us make
ourselves comfortable while we live.1' This ale, by the way,
was sold at a penny per quart, whic-h nothing short of sheer
want and feverish thirst could induce a human being to
drink. But it was the comfort of a miser.

132 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

afteward, "bless you, barn* 1 could not pray,
the heavens were like brass ; there was no
getting to the other side of them ; and how was
it possible to get over all yon old crooks, rusty
iron, and hob-nails, heaped up in the corner,
which had been collecting for years, and which,
if every body had their own, were happen none
of his !"

During part of the life of two of Martha's
sisters, who resided in Rochdale, he paid an
annual visit to them in that town. On one of
these occasions, in 1801 or 1802, while Mr.
Percival was stationed on the circuit, he went
as usual to tender him his respects. Mr. P.
engaged him to preach in the country the next
day, which was the sabbath, and a person was
appointed to conduct him. Samuel ascended
the pulpit, preached in his accustomed way,
but failed to secure the attention of his rustic
hearers. He gave up preaching, and com-
menced a prayer-meeting. It was not long be-
fore a person manifested deep distress of soul,
on account of personal guilt. Samuel's com-
panion was alarmed lest some of the irreligious
part of the congregation should become unruly :
but the service passed off much better than
was anticipated. Samuel called upon Mr.
Percival the next morning, to inform him of his
sabbath's excursion ; and in allusion to this and
similar visits, he told the people, after the

■ " Barn,''' in Scotland, bairn, for child ; an expression
very common with Samuel, in his addresses to both rich and
poor, old and young.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. ] 33

commencement of missionary meetings, that lie
had *' been a missionary many years, and had
preached to white heathens in Lancashire."
Mrs. P. was confined to her room, and Mr. P.
himself — being without servant — was preparing
breakfast for the children — eight or nine in
number — such a breakfast as is commonly
used by the lower classes of society, in Lan-
cashire and the west of Yorkshire. Samuel
cast an alternate look at this minister of God,
and at his poor children : his compassion was
moved — it was more than he could support
himself under — he retired — walked about the
ground adjoining the house — sighed — wept —
prayed. He knew the price of provisions was
high, and board wages low : he saw the effects.
He had but two guineas in his pocket ; he
returned, divided the sum — and gave Mr. P. a
guinea. On his arrival at home, he gave his
wife the history of his journey, together with
an account of the manner in which he had dis-
posed of his money, stating, among other par-
ticulars, that he had " lent the Lord a guinea
at Rochdale." Martha remonstrated with him,
supposing, as others would have done, that he
had scarcely acted with prudence in his gene-
rosity, telling him that, in his circumstances,
I* half a guinea would have been very hand-
some." Samuel replied in his usual way, with
the feelings of a man delivered of a burden, and
with strong anticipations of the future, " Bless
thee, my lass, the Lord will soon make it up to
us," which was actually the case a few weeks

134 Till-; VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

afterward, and made up, it may be added,
fourfold. He seemed to have none of those
secondary or intermediate sentiments and im-
pressions, which are often fatal to better feel-
jiil^s — the creature interposing between the
I 're a tor and the soul; and hence it is that we
perceive the spring of most of his movements :
lie considered himself, in all his charities, as
acting immediately under and for God — as rc-
ceiving from him, and giving to him :* furnish-
ing a standing, a living exemplification of his
faith in, " / was a hungered, and ye gave me
meat : inasmuch as ye have done it unto one
of the least of these my brethren, ye have done
it unto mc^

There was still a degree of mystery hanging
-round the benevolence of Samuel at Rochdale,
for which Martha was unable satisfactorily to
account, as she had only allowed what she
deemed the adequate expenses of the journey.
But Samuel, supposing he was pinioned a little
too closely for the occasion, paid a stolen visit
to his friend Mr. Rhodes before he set off, re-
questing the loan of a guinea, as he had fre-
quently done, saying, " We can set it straight,
you know, at Christmas, when we settle."
When Martha came to a knowledge of this,

* !t w.is a fine sentiment of the benevolent Reynolds, of
Bristol, in reply to a lady who applied to him on behalf of an
orphan. After he had given liberally, she said, "When he
is old I will tc;ich him to name and thank his benefactor."
V Stop," said the good maiij "thou art mistaken: we do not
thank the clouds for the rain. Teach him to look higher, and
thank Him who givcth both the clouds and the rain-"

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH . 135

she remarked, that she had often thought that
Mr. Rhodes's payments appeared but small when
compared with the work which had been done.

In addition to this mortgage-like source, to
which he fled on special occasions, he had a
secret place in his shop, where he was accus-
tomed to deposite a little cash for regular use.
Living by the side of the great north road from
London to Edinburgh, he was constantly receiv-
ing visits from objects of distress. On their
appearance, he went to his hoard, and relieved
them as his feelings dictated, and his funds
allowed.

On one occasion he even put his friend Mr.
R. upon his metal, in the race of charity. The
Rev. J. P., finding that the debt upon the Pon-
tefract circuit pressed heavily on the spirits
and pockets of the stewards, resolved to have
it either reduced or entirely liquidated. He
accordingly went to Mr. R. among the first, as
a person of property, in full expectation of meet-
ing with encouragement and support. After
looking at the case, and hesitating some time,
Mr. R. dryly said, " You may put me down five
shillings." The reverend applicant's spirits
seemed to drop several degrees ; and with his
horizon overcast in the outset, he began to con-
clude, that the debt was not soon to be removed.
Samuel was standing by, employing his ears
and his eyes, but not his voice ; and Mr. P.,
turning to him, asked despondingly, " How
much will you give ?" " Put me down a
pound," he returned. Mr. P.'s spirits suddenly

136 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

rose — Samuel stood unmoved, apparently watch-
ing the effect — while his wealthy friend stared
with astonishment, saying, after a short pause,
and in as graceful a manner as possible, " You
will have to put me down the same, I suppose.''
So much for the influence of example.

He was an utter stranger to the feeling of
giving " grudgingly." His was, in poetic
language, a " burning charity ;" like concealed
lire, constantly enlarging, till it actually tears
away the surface of the earth, to let loose the
imprisoned flame. It only wanted an object
upon which to expend itself; and as he rarely
gave with discretion, the first applicant generally
fared the most bountifully. lie was returning
from the pit one day with a load of coals : a
little girl seeing him pass the door, ran toward
him, and asked him for a piece of coal, stating
that her mother was confined, and the family
without fire. He stopped the horse — went into
the house — made inquiry into their circum-
stances— found the tale of the child correct —
brought the cart to the door — and poured down
the whole of the load free of cost. Having no
money upon him to pay for an additional load,
and being apprehensive of a lecture at home
for the abundance of his charity, he returned
to the coal-pit, where he knew he had credit
for twenty times the quantity, refilled his cart,
and returned home with his soul hymning its
way up to heaven, like the lark breasting the
morning breeze, and gladdening the inhabitant
below with its first song.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 137

To him it was of no importance what was
the nature of the want ; if it were a want, it was
sure to be met by him with the first object cal-
culated to supply it, to which he had any legal
claim ; and met too with the freedom and sud-
den gush of a fountain breaking from the side
of a hill, giving forth its streams till its sources
are exhausted by its impetuosity. Of this, his
conduct to some soldiers on a march, during
the late war, affords perhaps as fine a speci-
men as any that can be selected. It was what
is termed a " forced march," and in the height
of summer. The regiment being on its route
to the south, a party halted at Micklefield early
in the morning ; the village inn could accom-
modate but a small portion of them, and the
remainder took their seats on the heaps of
stones by the side of the road. Samuel, as
usual, was up early, and sallying out of the
house, he had presented to his view these ve-
terans in arms. A thrill of loyalty was felt in
his bosom, as every thing connected with his
King, to whom he was passionately attached,
was calculated to produce. He instantly re-
turned to the- house, and placed before the men
the whole contents of the buttery, pantry, and
cellar — bread, cheese, milk, butter, meat, and
Deer went, and he himself, in the midst of the
men, as happy as a king living in the hearts of
his subjects. Though in the very heyday of
enjoyment, he looked with tenderness upon the
men, who were about to take the field, and dis-
missed them with his blessing. But he had

138 1BE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

part of the reckoning still to pay with his
partner. Martha came down stairs, and after
engaging in other domestic concerns, proceeded
to the buttery, to skim the milk for breakfast.
All had disappeared. Inquiry was made ; and
when she found how the things had been
disposed of, she eluded him, saying, " You
might have taken the cream off before you gave
it to them." Samuel replied, " Bless thee,
barn, it would do them more good with the
cream upon it." The officers of the regiment
having heard of his conduct, called upon him
to remunerate him for what he had done ; but
he thanked them for their intentions, stating
that what he had given, he had freely gin n,
and that the men were icelcojne to the whole.
The tale of Samuel's bounty was handed from
company to company, and lastly from regiment
to regiment : and on the plains of Waterloo,
some of the brave fellows, when nearly ex-
hausted through excessive toil, were heard to
express a wish by some who had heard the
storv, and knew Samuel, that thev again had
access to his milk, and beer. Little was he
aware that he would be borne in British hearts
from his native shore, and triumph in those
hearts in his deeds of charity, upon a field and
in a struggle that decided the fate of Europe, —
be recollected as the warrior's solace, in the
hour of peril !

Though Samuel received occasional lectures
from his good wife on account of his charities,
it was not owing to a want of generous feeling

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 139

in her, but to a greater share of prudence ; and
it was a fortunate circumstance for him, that he
had such a curb at hand ; otherwise he would
have been often seriously involved in his cir-
cumstances, and through charity alone, might
either have enlarged the list of bankrupts in
the Gazette, or been led to the workhouse to
subsist on the charity of others. In this,
though in the character of a drawback, she was
in reality a help-meet ; and by prudently looking
forward, was enabled to foresee the possibility
of an evil day of want, and to hide both herself
and the children from its calamities, by a little
timely provision. It was not surprising to
find Samuel plunging occasionally, yet inno-
cently, when the reins were drawn a little more
tightly than he wished. An amusing scene of
this kind took place in the domestic circle. He
was going out, and had attired himself in his
better garb for public appearance. Not know-
ing what demands of justice or of mercy might
be made upon him before his return, he asked
his daughter, then at home, and who frequently
acted the part of purse-bearer, for a few shil-
lings. Martha, whose hearing was unusually
quick on those occasions, was on the look out.
The two hands were stretched out — that of the
daughter to give, and that of the father 10 re-
ceive— without either of them being aware that
another eye was upon them. Martha, unper-
ceived, glided up to them like an apparition —
passed her arm between them — and, placing
her hand beneath the one containing the silver,

140 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

gave it a sudden jerk : up Hew the contents,
which suddenly descended in a shower on the
house floor, when Martha, out of seven or eight
shillings, secured a dividend of four.

These little incidents show the man, as well
as the necessary restraints imposed ; nor could
ho be seen without them : and however sen-
sible the biographer may be of their want of
dignity, and sometimes even of gravity, there is
a greater solicitude in " hitting off the likeness,"
than in securing fame by the chaste and clas-
sical execution of the work. Samuel, to be
known, must be threaded through every path
of private as well as public life ; and into one
of the former he may again be traced, and be-
held with interest, if not admiration.

He was in the habit of visiting the sick ; and
as he was no respecter of persons, he attended
people of every persuasion, and in every rank
of life, to whom he could find access. Among
others, he visited the wife of old William Hems-
worth, who died in 1820. William and his
sons, having united themselves to the Wesleyan
societv. were in the habit of accompanvinjr
Samuel to different places in his religious ex-
cursions. She, being a rigid Roman Catholic,
looked upon Samuel as a heretic, leading them
astray from the true faith. Affliction, at length,
overtook her, on her route to the grave : and
what was not a little singular, she sent for
Samuel to pray with her. His prayers were
effectual — her heart was smitten — the clouds
of ignorance and superstition rolled off in sue-

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 141

cession from her understanding, like mists from
the face of a landscape before the morning sun.
On the arrival of the priest, under whose
guidance she had been for a number of years,
he was shown to her apartment ; but instead of
waiting for instruction, she upbraided him for
not having inculcated upon her the necessity
of the "new birth," stating, at the same time,
that she derived " more good from Sammy
Hick's prayer, than from all that" she " had
heard before, and that if she recovered, she
would " go among the Methodists." The
daughter asked the priest to pray with her
mother ; but supposing her too far gone in
heresy for recovery, he retired, saying, " I have
done with her." It is pleasing to add, that the
woman died in possession of " perfect peace."
Another person of the same persuasion, and
nearly at the same time, resident at Micklefield,
was visited by Samuel. The priest and Samuel
accidentally met in the sick man's chamber at
the same time ; and in order to effect either the
withdrawal or expulsion of the latter, the priest
told the family that he could " not do any thing
while Samuel" was present. This was a point
which required some deliberation ; and no one
appearing forward in the business, the reverend
gentleman took it upon himself, to order Samuel
to walk out of the house. Samuel, supposing
he might be serviceable on the occasion, ob-
served, " Two are better far than one :" but
the priest not according with this sentiment,
and the mother of the poor man declaring, in-

142 THB VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

toxicated mo;m\vliile with liijuor, that she could
not sat/ her prayers for Xammij Hick, he was
obliged to leave. So much for bigotry and in-
toxication, linked on the occasion like a wedded
pair !

He was more useful in visiting a poor aged
widow. After encouraging and praying with
her, he put sixpence into her hand — the sum
total, it is believed, he had upon his person at
the time. She appeared overpowered with
gratitude, and he was deeply affected with the
manner in which it was expressed. It sud-
denly occurred to him, and he internally ac-
costed himself — " Bless me ! can sixpence
make a poor creature happy ? How many six-
pences have I spent on this mouth of mine,
in feeding it with tobacco! I will never take
another pipe while I live : I will give to the
poor whatever I save from it." From that
hour he denied himself. It was not long, how-
ever, before he was seriously indisposed. His
medical attendant, being either inclined to try
the strength of his resolution, or supposing that
he had sustained some injury by suddenly
breaking off the use of the pipe, and therefore
would derive advantage from its re-adoption,
addressed him thus :

Phys. " You must resume the use of the
pipe, Mr. Hick."

Sam. " Never more, sir, while I live."

PInjs. " It is essential to your restoration to
health, and I cannot be answerable for conse-
quences, should you reject the advice given."

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 143

Sam. " Let come what will, I'll never take
another pipe: I've told my Lord so, and I'll
abide by it."

Phys. " You will in all probability die, then."

Sam. " Glory be to God for that ! I shall go
to heaven! I have made a vow, and I'll keep
it." His medical adviser found him unflinching
in the face of danger and of death ; and as he
recovered from his illness, he more readily at-
tributed the prolongation of life to the honour
which God had conferred upon him for his
self-denial, than to the most efficacious me-
dicine that could have been administered.

This fearlessness, for which he was indebted
both to nature and grace, produced on one oc-
casion a happy effect. He had been at Askern
Spaw with Martha, some time in 1816, and on
his return home, took occasion to stand up in
the curt, before he reached Norton, to throw
his great coat over her in order to prevent her
from taking cold during her exposure to the
open air. Just at that moment the horse took
fright — Samuel lost his balance — fell backward
out of the cart — and pitched upon his shoulder.
He sustained considerable injury, and when
raised from the ground, was unable to stand
erect. He was conveyed with some difficulty
to the village ; on reaching which, a medical
gentleman was sent for, who deemed it ad-
visable not to bleed him, though urged to it by
him. " I am very ill, sir," said Samuel, " and
must be bled." The surgeon replied, " If you
are bled at present, you will die.11 " Die — die.

ft

144 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

sir," was returned, "What is death to me ? I
am not afraid of dying. I have nothing to do
but to make my will ; and I can make it in
two minutes ; there are plenty of witnesses.
.My money shall be disposed of so and so,"
naming, in a lew brief sentences, the manner :
then stretching out his great arm, as he did on
a subsequent occasion, he said, " Live or die, I
will be bled." The gentleman, hoping the best,
opened the vein, and took a basin of blood
from him. Not satisfied, Samuel stretched forth
the other arm, and said, <;I will be bled in this
also." His attendant again complied with his
wish, and took from him a second basin full.
" When he did this," Samuel observed, " the
pain went away as nice as aught.'''' On the
bandages being properly adjusted, Samuel said,
11 Now, doctor, you have been made a blessing
to my body ; I will beg of God to bless your
soul." So saying, he knelt in his usual hurried
way, and devoutly prayed for his benefactor.
The surgeon, on rising, remarked, " I never
had such a patient as you in the whole course
of my practice :" and then inquired his name
and place of abode, to which Samuel distinctly
replied, hitching in at the close, " I come here
to preach sometimes." This led to an invita-
tion to the house of the surgeon, the next time
he should visit the village, to which Samuel
readily acceded, stating afterward to a friend,
that he was " glad of it," for he " wanted a
good inn there." Accordingly, the next time
he was appointed to preach in the village, he

THE VILLAGE BtACKSMIt Ilf. 143

rode up to the surgeon's door, was hospitably
entertained, and had both the surgeon himself
and his family as hearers. The house in which
he preached was exceedingly crowded ; and on
returning with the family, he accosted his host,
— " You see, doctor, how uncomfortable we
are. We ought to have a chapel. The stone
is the Lord's — the wood is the Lord's — and the
money is the Lord's." The gentleman took
the hint ; and with a heart as ready to improve
upon it, as he had acuteness to perceive it,
offered a subscription to set the work in motion ;
Samuel instantly proceeded to solicit subscrip-
tions from others ; and out of this misfortune
arose a Wesleyan Methodist chapel. In that
chapel Samuel had the pleasure of holding
forth the word of life. It may be added, that
so much delighted was the gentleman with the
patience, fortitude, and conversation of Samuel ;
and connecting with it his intention to leave
home two or three times before he was sent
for, but still unaccountably detained, without
being able to assign any reason, till Samuel's
messenger arrived, he was led to acknowledge
a supreme power, and to perceive a vitality in
the influence of religion upon the heart, which
he had neither previously known nor confessed.
Prodigal as Samuel was in some of his cha-
rities, toward persons in great need, and who
were likely to make a proper use of them,
there were seasons when he seemed to be
vested with a discretional power, beneficial to
the recipient. A poor man had lost a horse

10

MG tui; vii.i.awi; blacksmith.

by sickness. Samuel, who was bi a servant iM

all work," in the begging line, went around the
neighbourhood, and collected money for the
purchase of another. This amounted to a guinea
more than the value of the animal, — a sum of
less than twenty shillings being sufficient to
purchase another equally poor to replace it.
The man himself, though a professor of reli-
gion, was less entitled to Samuel's confidence
than his benevolence: and to show how low
lie stood, by the small degree of prosperity lie
was capable of sustaining. Samuel, speaking of
him to a friend, said, " I did not give him the
guinea all at once ; I gave it him as I thought
he needed it ; for bless you, barn, you see he
could not bear prosperity." The notion of
"prosperity" being appended to so small a sum,
is worthy of being preserved as a memento
emanating from a mind which was itself stamped
by it as a still greater curiosity.

Benevolence of heart, though connected with
slender personal means, is often of greater value
to a neighbourhood, in such a man as Samuel
Hick, than the opulence of others. A female
who resided about, a mile from his house was
extremely poor, and hastening, through con-
sumption, to an invisible world. When her
case became known, ho went to Aberford —
applied to several respectable people — staled
her circumstances — and solicited a variety of
things which he deemed suitable for her relief
and support. Aware of the honour which God
nuts Upon faith, agreeably to the declaration of

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 147

our Lord to the blind man — " According to
your faith be it unto you," he provided himself
beforehand, in the strength of his confidence,
with a basket ; which, together with his pocket,
was replenished on his return, having between
twenty and thirty shillings in one, — muffins,
bread, butter, sugar, and a shoulder of mutton
in the other. Careful Martha, who was never
backward in rare cases, as has been perceived,
and would have done more in such as were
less necessitous, had she not known that
Samuel's benevolence was more than sufficient
for both, added her half-crown to the moneys
collected ; and Samuel, with his basket by his
side, set off to the cottage of this daughter of
affliction, and was received like the angel of
plenty in time of famine.

" His heart always melted," says Mr. Dawson,
" at the sight, or on hearing the tale of wo.
He could not hear of persons in distress, but he
wept over them ; and if they were within his
reach, he relieved them according to his ability,
applying also to others more affluent than him-
self to assist in such works of mercy. If ever
a person answered the character of the liberal
man, who devises liberal things, Samuel Hick
was the man. The highest luxury that he
could enjoy was, to deal out bread to the hungry,
to bring the poor into his house that were cast
out, to cover the naked, and to satisfy the
afflicted soul. Then it was that he felt the full
truth of that sentence, 'It is more blessed to
give than to receive.'"

1 18 THE Vll.T.AOr. BLACKSMITH.

But if one object of charity was more para-
mount than another in his affections and exer-
tions, it was that of Christian missions ; — a
charity on the broadest scale, which blends all
the miseries of time with the glories of eternity,
alleviating the one by the contemplation of the
other : — a charity which looks at the whole man,
in all the relations of life ; — a charity whose
object is the destruction of sin — that which,
like a pestilential vapour, blights the whole
harvest of human hope and comfort, and, carry-
ing the seeds of destruction into every source
of prosperity, reduces society to the condition
of a tree withered to the root ; — a charity, in
short, occasioned by " Paradise Lost," and
which will never know cessation in its doings
till the fact is ascertained of " Paradise Re-
gained." So far back as the period when the
late Dr. Coke commenced what has been termed
the "drudgery of begging," Samuel gave him
half a guinea for the support of the missions :
and this, considering the scanty means he had
then at command, and the small number of
missionaries employed, would not have dis
graced the " Reports" of modern times. Tint
it was not till the public meetings commenced
at Leeds,* and elsewhere, that his soul, as

* The biographer lias had too deep an interest in these
meetings not to recollect the influence of their heginnines
upon his own mind. It is difficult precisely to determine at
this distance of time with whom the first thought originated,
or what was the first sentence that led to them. Mr. Scarth,
of Leeds, repeatedly remarked to Mr. Dawson, before Dr.
Coke took his departure for India, "The missionary cause
must be taken out of the doctor's rnnds: it must bo made a

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 149

though it had been in bondage before — for such
was the change — bounded off, and expatiated
at full liberty. Here he had ample scope for
the finest, the fullest, and the deepest philan-
thropic feelings of his heart ; and for many
miles around his own homestead it was rare not

public — a common cause!''' It is not impossible that this may
have been the germ of the whole. The Dissenters had a
public meeting in Leeds, a few months previous to the first
public one among the Wesleyans. This having been held
in the course of the summer, Messrs. Scarth and Turkington
visited the conference, and expressed their views on the
subject to the Rev. George Marsden, stating that something
should be done in a more public way for the missionary in
• terest belonging to their own body. With their views Mr.
M. perfectly coincided. When the embarrassed state of the
missionary fund came before the conference, there appeared
to be no alternative between reducing the preachers at home
or the missionaries abroad. There was too much zeal and
liberality in the body to permit either. The subject was one
of deep interest ; and did not die at conference. Mr. Morley,
the Leeds superintendent, thought, that if the Dissenters
could raise a Missionary Meeting, the Methodists might
also ; and accordingly suggested the subject to his colleagues,
Messrs. Bunting and Piiter, who zealously entered into his
views. Not satisfied with commencing this " new thing" in
Methodism on their own responsibility, they were desirous
of knowing how far the proposal of a public meeting would
meet with the countenance of others of their brethren.
Bramley having been then but recently divided from the
Leeds circuit — a close union still subsisting between them —
and being contiguous to each other, these gentlemen pro-
ceeded thither, with a view to deliberate with the Rev. W.
Naylor and the biographer, who were then stationed on the
Bramley circuit. No persuasion was requisite ; the pro~
priety, necessity, and practicability of the measure were
manifest at once. The Leeds and the Bramley preachers
thus took the first decisive and active step in the work,
which has since been carried on to such an extent. A cor
responding chord was soon found to vibrate with pleasure in
the breasts of the Rev. Messrs. R. Watson and J. Buckley,
of the Wakefield circuit ; and they were followed by Messrs.
Reeco and Atmore, of the Bradford and Halifax circuits,

150 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

to sec his lace turn up in the crowd, like the
imacTC on a favourite medal, which is the pride
and boast of the antiquary, and fixes the eye of
the spectator much sooner than most of the
others which adorn his cabinet.

CHAPTER VII.

His patriotic feeling — High price of provisions — Differs
with Mr. Pawson for prognosticating evil — I, otter to the
Rev. Edward Irving on prophecy — Threatened invasion of
Bonaparte — An address to the king — Samuel's loyalty —
M. A. Taylor, Esq. — The suppression of a religious as-
sembly— A defence of a religious revival — His interview
with Mr. Taylor — Obtains a license to preach — An allusion
to him in a parliamentary debate.

A max like Samuel Hick, whose mind was
so thoroughly imbued with divine grace, was
not likely to be defective in what is termed
nationality, and the still more Scriptural prin-
ciple of loyalty. Never did a Jew, by the
rivers of Babylon, reflect with greater tender-
ness upon Judea, " in a strange land," than he

who both exulted in the prospect of so ample a harvest of
good. Mr. Bunting organized the first plan — Mr. Watson
wrote the first address — Mr. Buckley preached the first
Bermon on the occasion, at Armley, a place belonging to the
Bramley circuit — and the first public meeting was held in
the old chapel, at Leeds, — T. Thompson, Esq., M. P., in
the chair. The meetings were at first beheld by some of the
brethren as the dotage of enthusiasm, and as the forerunner
of a marriage union with the world. But they became so
productive, and were so instrumental in producing good to
the contributors, that the most sturdy opponents were not
(infrequently found afterward in the chair delivering their
recantations.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 151

did upon his country, which he was in the ha-
bit of designating, " our island" — u our England,"
always considering himself as having a per-
sonal interest at stake in all its affairs ; and never
did a subject in any realm pour out with greater
sincerity and fervour the prayer of — " God save
the king."

During one of Mr. Pawson's appointments to
the Leeds circuit, Samuel observes, " Corn
was very dear. The poor people went around
our town with a half guinea in their hands,
and could not get a stroke* of corn for it. Mr.
Pawson came to Sturton Grange to preach,
and while preaching, he told his congregation
that there would be a famine in our land, an'I
that he had seen it coming on for twenty years."
Such a prophecy, from such a prophet — a man
whom, like all other Wesleyan ministers, he
considered an apostle of God — and in reference
to his own land, " of every land the pride,"
could not but awaken in him strange emotions.
Without attempting to endue Mr. Pawson with
the gift of prophecy, it is probable that he might
intimate to his congregation, that he had sighed
over the extreme wickedness of the wicked —
having been touched by it — that from the poig-
nancy of his feelings, he foreboded some mani-
festation of the divine displeasure — and by
way of improving the subject, in order to lead

* Strike, a bushel. In the west of Yorkshire, a strike is
two pecks or a half bushel ; hence the high price of grain at
the period referred to, when poor people could not obtain
a half bushel for a half guinea.

152 Tin; village blacksmith^

the dissolute to repentance, prayer, and re-
formation, might lay hold of passing events in
such a way as to lead Samuel, unapprehensive
of his meaning, and not taking in the whole of

the connecting links of thought, to draw I
inference state! .

Samuel returned home reflecting on what he
conceived to he Mr. Pawsoifs view of the
subject ; and the following extract will show
the acuteness of his feelings, his simplicity,
and his piety. " I began," says he, " to be
very miserable; and as my children were small,
I thought it would be a sore thing for them, my
wife, and myself to be pined to death. When
I got home I went into my closet to inquire of
the Lord, whether there would be a famine or
no; and while I was pleading I got as fair an
answer from the Lord, that there would be no
famine, as when he pardoned my sins and
cleansed my soul. I saw that there was plenty
of corn to supply till harvest. But this did not
satisfy me. I told my wife that I could not rest
till I went to inform the preacher that there
would he no famine in our land. I set off for
Sturton ; and when I got there, I told that dear
woman ot God, Mrs. Ward, my errand." Here
Mrs. W. very properly interposed, not only on
account of the lateness of the hour, which ap-
pears to have been on the same evening after
preaching — but by delicately suggesting the
impropriety there would be in his " pretending
to dictate to one of the first preachers in the
connection." But Samuel was not to be re-

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 153

pulsed by cither first or second, whether the
claim instituted referred to priority of time or
superiority of talent. He had his one argument
at hand — " Thus saith the Lord ;" and pro-
ceeds, " I told her not to blame me, for it was
the Lord that had sent me. With a deal to do.
she let me into the room ; and I told our brother
Pawson, that the Lord had sent me to inform
him that there would be no famine in the land."
Mr. Pawson, whose forebodings were scarcely
removed, replied, " Well, brother, I shall be
very thankful to the Lord to find it not so."
Samuel, taking a little credit for the correctness
of his own judgment and impression in the
case, and still firm in his belief in the actual
prediction of a famine, adds, " So we see how
good men may miss their way, for there was
no famine." To persons whose feelings are not
immediately interested, it is sometimes amus-
ing to hear well-meaning men, without a pro-
phetic soul, guessing against each other for
their Maker. In the present case, Samuel's
conduct in going to " inquire of the Lord,"
manifested a spirit worthy the most simple,
the purest, the best part of patriarchal times;
and as they were chiefly his own fears that had
to be allayed, the impression that effected their
removal was so far — all prophecy on the oc-
casion apart — an act of mercy — mercy mani
fested in the exercise of prayer.

He availed himself of this supposed pro-
phetic failure of Mr. Pawson, February 28th,
1826, when he addressed a letter to the Rev

154 THE \ II. L.M. ]. BLACKSMITH.

E. Irving, who had then reached the acme ol
his oratorical attractions, though not of his
theological reveries, and who, as Samuel had
been informed, had been prognosticating na-
tional calamities, because of national wicked-
ness. The original, which is in the writer's
possession, is a curiosity, and would, if printed
as it ilowed from his pen, exemplify the esti-
mate given of his mind in the preceding pages.
With the exception of a few transpositions, re-
trenchments in verbiage, and the occasional
substitution of a word, the following may be
considered as an allowable copy : —

" Dear Brother Irving, the Prophet in London .
" I am informed that you have prophesied
that this island is boivn to come to desolation ;
but I think you should put a condition in your
prophecy, viz., that if the people humble them-
selves, pray, and turn from their wicked ways,
then God will hear from heaven, will pardon
their sins, and will heal the land. When the
Prophet Jonah went to preach at Nineveh, the
whole of the people of the city humbled them-
selves, and prayed to God ; and God heard their
prayer, and saved them from destruction. If
there had been ten righteous souls in the cities
of Sodom and Gomorrah, when they were
destroyed, in which there were so many thou-
sands of men, women, and children, they would
not have suirered : and I i'ullv believe, that if
Abraham had pleaded on, the Lord would have
saved the cities for his servant's sake ; but he

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 155

gave up pleading, and then they were con-
sumed.

" But I have to inform you, sir, that there are
more than ten righteous men in a city ; for the
little one has become a thousand, and the small
one a strong nation. We have our Moseses,
and our Elijahs, and our Daniels in our island,
who are all pleading. We have thousands of
children training up to fear God and honour the
king ; we have Bible societies, missionary
meetings, and tract societies. These four in-
stitutions are the Lord's ; and this island is
the Lord's nursery, in which he raises up plants
to plant the gospel in all the world, in order to
be a witness unto all nations. Then the wicked-
ness of the wicked shall come to an end — all
shall know the Lord from the least to the
greatest — nations shall learn war no more — and
the whole earth shall be filled with the glory of
God.

" The pope prophesied, in years past and
gone,* that he should get back the inheritance
of his forefathers, be set upon the British throne,
and have all the churches restored : but th^.
will never come to pass ; God will never suffei
the pope to govern his nursery or plantation.
We shall be governed by peaceable governors.

* Samuel met with a man, in one of his journeys, who
avowed his belief in the Roman Catholic creed, and his faith
also in the restoration of our cathedrals and churches to the
papal state. The public mind was considerably agitated at
the time with the Catholic question, and the impression pro-
duced by both led him, probably, to introduce his holiness to
Mr. Irving.

156 IUV. VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

We shall have peace and plentv. The vear
that has passed has been a plentiful year for
temporal food ; and 1 trust before we see the
end of this \vc shall find it to have been one of
the best we ever had for spiritual food — that
many will be brought, to the knowledge of God
— and that we shall see the downfall of in-
fidelity.

" I have known good men miss their way in
my day, by their prophecies. The prophets
foretold that there should be wars and rumours
of wars in the latter days, and that, nation should
rise up against nation. These prophecies have
been fulfilled. Nation has been up against
nation. There has been such destruction as
never was before. But these days were to be
shortened for the elect's sake." Then follows
his account of what he denominated Mr. Paw-
son's prophecy, appending to it the case of
another person, who, he observes, " prophesied
that our island would be covered with war and
bloodshed," and as a precautionary measure,
" took his family to America, where he pur-
chased a large estate. But," continues Samuel,
" these were foolish prophecies, and false pro-
phets, and I firmly believe yours will prove to
be like them. While we continue to honour
God, by sending the gospel to the poor perish-
ing heathen, by keeping up our noble Bible and
tract societies, and Sunday schools, we shall
neither have pestilence nor famine, nor shall
the sword be permitted to go through the land.
And although there is at present a great stagna-

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. J 57

tion of trade and commerce, yet there is a re-
medy for us, on certain conditions. It is riot a
prophet, nor an archangel, but the God that
made the world, and all that therein is, who
says, ' If I shut up heaven that there be no rain,
or if I send a pestilence, if my people that is
called by my name will humble themselves,
and turn from their wicked ways, I will pardon
their sins, and will heal their land.' This is the
case. Persons are turning from their sins every
day. Judgment is mixed with mercy. England
is one of the first islands in the world. We
have liberty of conscience — we have peace —
and I hope trade and commerce will again re-
vive, and that the suffering poor will have
plenty of work, to enable them to earn bread
for their families."

There is not the slightest intention in the
writer to bring the " Village Blacksmith" into
the arena of controversy, with a view to place
him in polemic array against Mr. Irving ; nor
need Mr. Irving be ashamed of the association,
as a few of Samuel's positions are as tenable
as some of those with which he has favoured
the world in his more recent publications.
Proceeding on the correctness of Samuel's in-
formation, which is only assumed for the oc-
casion, his suggestion relative to the propriety
of annexing conditions to threatening, and the
support which he professes to derive from this
suggestion from the case of Nineveh, is worthy
of respect. His application of the subject to
Britain, which he illustrates by the case of

158 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH

Sodom and Gomorrah, showing the superiority
of the one over the other — Britain with her
multitude of intercessors actually engaged at
the throne of grace, her Christian philan-
thropy, as exhibited in her institutions, and
the probable increase of conversions to God
through the instrumentality of Sunday schools
— and the cities of the plain without their " ten
righteous" characters — deducing from the whole
the probability of our safety, shows that he was
in possession of correct Scriptural notions,
though they often radiated in different direc-
tions, like so many scattered rays of light, be-
ing unable to employ them to the best advan-
tage, and therefore not always falling with ful-
ness on the point to be illuminated. The act,
too, of pressing the late revolutionary wars into
his service, which he considered to be no other
than the " rumours of wars" mentioned in Scrip-
ture, by way of showing the difference between
ancient and modern prophetic pretensions —
the one having been fulfilled, and the other
remaining unaccomplished — and his attempt to
rescue the prevailing commercial distress out
of Mr. Irving's hands, that he might not avail
himself of it in support of his predicted judg-
ments, intimate a quickness of intellect, though
unequal to that which precedes. But the letter
is Lriven chiefly with a view to show the manner
in which his thoughts moved, when venturing
beyond the precincts of a few brief sentences ;
and for this purpose, too, as well as that of
honouring the feelings of his heart, his address

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 159

to his majesty George III. may be introduced.
At the time when Bonaparte threatened to
invade England, there were great " search-
ing^ of heart." Samuel was among the suf-
ferers in spirit. When fear was at its height,
he retired into the fields, like the prophet to the
summit of a solitary mountain, to intercede with
his Maker ; and he there received what set his
own mind at rest — an assurance that our shores
would never be either printed or polluted by
(he foot of the enemy. From that period he
went on his way rejoicing, and in the strength
of his confidence, his patriotic and loyal feel-
ing, he wrote the address just alluded to, the
substance of which is as follows : —

" O king, live for ever ! Let not your heart
be troubled, nor your countenance be changed ;
for that God whose church and cause you have
defended, will also defend you, and deliver you
from the lion and the bear, and also from this
uncircumcised Philistine ; for he shall never set
his foot upon English ground. And if your
majesty the king wants a regiment of life-
guards to defend your person, your property, or
your nation, God will raise them up from the
church of Christ, and I will go in the forefront
and like Gideon's army, with their lamps in
pitchers, one of these will chase a thousand,
and two will put ten thousand to ilight. And
if your majesty the king wants any money to
support or defend your person, your property,
or your nation, I am now possessed of .£600,
and your majesty shall have every shilling of

1 GO THE V1U.AOF r.r.Af'KSMITH.

it. When 1 began the world, I had not a
penny, nor a bite of bread to put into my mouth,
and I will again begin the world as naked as at
first. And that God whom I love and servo
will never suffer the crown to be taken from the
head of your mnjesty, till he shall crown you
with immortality and eternal life."

Whether the letter ever reached his majesty
is doubtful, not onlv because of the medium
through which it was conveyed, but from the
known character of that venerable monarch ; as
it is more than probable, that, from the novelty
of the occasion, he would have condescended,
not to accept the ofTer, but to pay respect to the
generous emotions which emanated from the
bosom of such a subject ; and the more so, as
the name of Hick was not unfamiliar to the
royal ear. Samuel had a brother-in-law,* who
was groom in the stables at Windsor, and to
whom his majesty paid personal attention.
Having been absent from his post through indis-
position, his mnjesty, on perceiving it, inquired,
in his hasty manner, " Where is Hick ? Where
is Hick?'' When informed that he was ill,
the royal inquiry was, " Has he had medical
aid ?" instantly adding, " if not, let him have it
immediately." But the sufferer died ; and Mr.
Dawson observes, " I have been informed, that
his widow was the object of his majesty's at-
tention and bounty." Samuel, by means of his
brother-in-law, had acquired that knowledge of
his majesty's private character which inspired

* His wife's brother, whose maiden name was Hick

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 161

him with veneration. This feeling led him to
Windsor, during his last visit to the metropolis :
but of all the objects presented to the eye of a
stranger, nothing fixed his attention so much
as the house of his God ; and in that house, not
any thing yielded such rapture as the cushion
upon which the royal personage had been ac-
customed regularly to perform his devotional
exercises. On that cushion Samuel devoutly
knelt; and as he could throw his whole soul
into that prayer, " Give the king thy judg-
ments, O God ;" so he could as heartily add,
11 and thy righteousness unto the King's son :"
and hence it was, that when George III. re-
signed his crown, he transferred his loyal affec-
tion to George IV.

While the letter shows the piety, the loyalty,
and the liberality of its writer, together with the
occasionally beautiful adaptation of Scriptural
language and Scriptural metaphor to the sub-
ject in hand, for which he was sometimes so
happy, and which, in some instances, could not
have been more felicitously introduced by our
first divines, we are not less impressed with
his contracted views, and amused with his
notions of generalship. For though Roman
history has familiarized us with an instance of
one of its first characters having been sum-
moned from the plough to figure in arms, yet
ye are not quite prepared to see Samuel throw-
ing aside the leathern apron for regimentals —
to see him brandishing the sword, heading a
troop of soldiers, and cutting his way through

IG2 THE VILLAGE BCACK8JMITH.

the ranks of the enemy. 1 1 is liand was better
adapt <tl to tin! grasp of the hammer than the
lruskcl, and liis heart — which would have
sickened at cruelly to a beetle — would have
sooner led him to heal than to wound. The
estimate he formed of his prowess was what
would have suited his state when he silenced
the clergyman in the presence of Mr. Burdsall.
He would now have much sooner stripped, and
turned up his shin sleeves, in front of the anvil,
to beat swords into ploughshares, and spears
into pruning hooks, than have girded himself for
the light : and it is questionable whether he had
any intention in the case, besides that of ap-
pearing like the monks of Bangor before Ethel-
frith, accoutred, not with " carnal" weapons,
but with " the whole armour of God," which,
in his estimation, was more fitted for " the
pulling down of strong holds," than any other
instrument that could be invented, whether by
a Congreve or an Archimedes. If he had any
views beyond those of combating the assailants
with the weapons of faith and prayer, we can
only marvel at the difference between him and
John Nelson, whom he heard preach at Aberford
cross, who, when impressed for a soldier, said to
those who were decking him in military attire,
"You may array me as a man of war, but I
shall never fight." But whether Samuel had
taken the field or not, he would have given the
.£'000 as cheerfully as he ever gave sixpence
to a destitute widow.

Leaving the great continental field, wher°

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 163

the thunderbolt of war was seen turning up the
soil like a ploughshare, and where the military
tempest appeared to be gradually clearing the
air and settling the political atmosphere — with
which events it would have appeared ridiculous
to name such an insignificant being as Samuel,
had it not been for his loyal address — we shall
direct our attention to a slight skirmish of
another description, nearer his own homestead,
and see how he was skilled in the military tactics
requisite for the occasion. " I remember," he
observes, "a great outpouring of the Lord's
Spirit at Ledstone, near where I resided ; and
in that town there lived a parliament-man,
who was a justice of peace." This " parlia-
ment-man" was no other than Michael Angelo
Taylor, Esq., who has distinguished himself in
the senate on several measures for the melio-
ration of the metropolitan police, and different
other questions. One evening during the re-
vival referred to, Mr. T. was passing the place,
which was licensed for preaching, and in which
the people were met for public worship. On
hearing an unusual noise, he stepped up to the
door ; and not being over and above skilled in
the science of salvation, or having his ear
tuned for the music of penitential groans, he,
according to the testimony of Samuel, " stamped
and swore," declaring he would have them
" all taken up," calling out meanwhile for a
" constable."* Mr. T. addressed a farmer who

* The reader is referred to a note at the close of these
pages for some remarks which appeared in a respectable

164 THE VILLAGE I'.L.'.i CSMITH.

acted iii that capacity, and told him he would
have no such disturbance in the parish. A
good sister, who was present, began to pray
for Mr. T„ repeating several times, " Lord,
bless him." Mr. T., on the other hand, elevat-
ing his voice to an unusual pitch, told her to
cease her noise : " but she," says Samuel, " like
the blind man, cried out the more." Mr. T.,
however, at length succeeded in " breaking up
the meeting." This was a severe trial to
Samuel, who says, " I went home, but could
get very little rest. The next morning I went
to our class-leader, and told him that I could
not rest till I went to Mr. T. to inform him he
had broken the laws of our land." His class-
leader was Mr. Rhodes, who, partly to deter
Samuel, from an impression of the possibility of
the case, hinted that Mr. T. would commit him
to the house of correction. Samuel replied,

periodical, a few yean back, when the writer found it ne-
cessary to defend the same cause from an attack made upon
it, in an article in the " British Critic," and also in a separate
treatise, written professedly against the Wesleyan body.
The closing observations, which have been since added,
may not be characterized by that gravity which a more
solemn and literary biographical subject would — to pre-
serve it in proper keeping — have demanded ; but being in
character in these pages, it has been judged proper to in-
sert them. The writer, however, wishes it not to be under-
stood, that he comes forward as the advocate of noise, but
rather as an apologist and expositor; for though he would
find it difficult, in every instance, to tune his own ear to a
love of adverse sounds, he thinks that his feelings ought to
he under the guidance of his judgment — that the subject has
ocen much misunderstood — and that great forbearance is
due to inexperience, or, in other words, to religious child-
hood

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 165

" I have the Lord on my side, and the law on
my side, and I do not fear the face of a man."
His firmness gave confidence to Mr. Rhodes,
who agreed to accompany him. They both set
off, and arriving at Mr. T.'s before he had come
down stairs in the morning, were ushered into
the " servants' hall." There they remained,
till summoned into the presence-chamber. Mr.
T., on descending to breakfast, had been in-
formed of their visit. On entering the room,
he had, says Samuel, " a very stormy counte-
nance." The substance of the conversation,
as left on record, is as follows : —

Mr. T. " Well, Hick, what do you want ?"
Samuel. " I want, if you please, to worship
God under my own vine and fig-tree, no man
daring to make me afraid, or disturb me in the
worship of God. And, sir, I am come to in-
form you, as one of his majesty's peace- makers,
that last night you broke the laws of the land,
and that the- law stands in force against you.
But we, as a body of people, do not love law.
We are determined, however, to have the
liberty our king grants us. The place which
we were worshipping in is from the king, as it
is licensed : and I believe there is a double
penalty for your breaking the law."

Mr. T. " I know you very well ; you are in
the habit of travelling from place to place to
preach : but I have the outline of a bill, which
will be brought into parliament, and which will
at once put a stop to all such fellows, and pre-
vent them from going about. I will make you

166 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

remain in your own parish, and go to your own
church."

Samuel. " Bless the Lord ! sir, you cannot
stop us. It is the work of God ; and unless
yon can prevent the sun from shining, you can-
not stop it. You say you will make us go to
our own parish church. It is more than three
miles off. It is true, we have a chapel of ease ;
but the minister comes to it only twice in the
year : and we cannot live, sir, with such food
as this :" that is, with so small a portion.

Mr. T. " What, have you only two sermons
preached in the year ?"

Samuel. " No, sir ; and he would not come
then, only he cannot get his Easter dues with-
out coming."

Here the servant in attendance, and Mr.
Rhodes, could support it no longer, but burst
into a fit of laughter, and left the room. Mr.
Taylor, who appeared not to have known that
the place was licensed in which he was the
night before, and to have assumed the character
of sternness for the purpose of drawing Samuel
out into conversation, called upon Mr. Rhodes
to enter the room again, asking why he went
out. Mr. R. apologized, and stated, that he
could not refrain from laughing, and withdrew
to avoid a breach of good behaviour. Mr. T.
accosting him, said, " You know, Mr. Rhodes,
the old man wants a license to preach. This
I cannot grant in my individual capacity. But
he and you may go to Bradford next Thursday ;
ask for the clerk of the court, and tell him you

THE VILLA.OE BLACKSMITH. 1 (w

want a license for a dissenting minister, lie
will there receive it; and if, after that, any one
should disturb either of you, inform me, and I
will defend you." This was too much for
Samuel to bear in silence ; and without suffer-
ing Mr. R. to reply, he permitted that chord
of the heart which had just been struck, to give
out its fullest and wildest tones, saluting Mr. T.
with, " Bless the Lord ! they give you a sore
character in our country, but I think you are
not so bad as they say you are." This, by a
thousand men, would have been taken, as it
might have been given, as an insult. But Mr.
T., as he knew Samuel, had the good sense to
give to it its real value, and passed it off in
pleasantry. "After this," proceeds Samuel,
" I believe he would have granted me any favour.
He sent down to the farmer also, in whose
house the meeting was held, and told him, if he
was in want of any thing from his house or
gardens, it should be at his service. So we
see, when a man's ways please the Lord, he
makes his enemies to be at peace with him."

Samuel went too far in considering Mr. T.
an enemy ; for had he really been such, he
would have pursued a different line of conduct.
Simple, however, as the whole of this occur-
rence was, sufficient matter arose out of it to
attract the attention of the British senate ; for as
the " two sermons" per annum, in a " chapel of
ease," led, from the easy character of the labour,
to an investigation of other instances of gross
neglect, so it gave Mr. T. an opportunity of

I6S THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

stating in the house the necessity there was for
the ecclesiastical authorities to inquire, whether
the different places belonging to the establishment
wore properly supplied with religious instruct-
ed, noticing the case of which he was in-
formed by Samuel, arguing from thence, that it
was not to be wondered that a " Hack smith'1
in Yorkshire, should apply to him for a license
to authorize him to preach as a dissenting minis-
ter. When one of the newspapers was handed
to Samuel, in which the fact was stated, and
the allusion made, he was not a little elated,
and in his simplicity could even connect with
the circumstance, in a way in which no one
besides himself could do, the " government
churches," which were soon afterward erected,
and would have as soon — for such was his
knowledge of the politics and ecclesiastical
history of the day — attributed every new edifice
to that, as to any other cause. Though some
of these goodly structures were not very well
attended, he was far from viewing them as
useless : " They will be ready," said he, " for
the millennium, when it comes ; for we shall
want them then :'' not that he really wished
any other religious body to enjoy them ; but he
was confident they were not erected in vain.
He generally spoke respectfully of the Church
of England, and indulged a pleasing hope that
she wrould rise to be more holy, active, and
useful, than she had ever been.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 169

CHAPTER VIII.

His power in prayer — Divine impressions— An afflicting
providence — Remarkable answers to prayer — Familiar ex
pressions in prayer to be avoided — Encounters a blacksmith
— His usefulness — His meekness under persecution — Sin-
gular method of self-defence against the aspersions of a
clergyman— Musical festivals— Mr. Brad burn— Lovefeast—
Perfection — Seasonable remarks — The doctrine of sancti-
rication maintained in opposition to a clergyman — Cheerful
disposition — Indiscretionate zeal in a meeting of the Society
of Friends.

That which imparted real elevation of cha-
racter to Samuel was, his strong faith, and his
power with God in prayer : and here it is that
he was seen rising out of the habiliments of the
blacksmith, surrounded by the visitants, stunned
with the din, and enveloped in the smoke of the
smithy, like a being belonging to another world,
gradually unfolding himself, or suddenly break-
ing upon the spectators in the true spirit of an
angel of light. A few instances have been ad-
duced of his power in prayer on his own be-
half; but he still has to be viewed in the cha-
racter of a successful intercessor.

He had an impression upon his mind one
day, that he ought to go to the coal-pit, for
what he termed " a load of sleek"* But hav-
ing a tolerable stock in the smithy, he hesitated
and attempted to suppress it. The impression
was renewed, and — " Go, go," was reiterated,
as by a voice from within. " I'll pray about

* The refuse or smaller part of the coal, used in fur-
naces, &c.

170 THE VILLAGE BLACK8HITH.

it," said he to himself. But " go" was still the
language which he seemed to hear, while en-
gaged upon his knees. He rose and told his
wife he was going for a load of " sleek." She,
as was natural, opposed him, pointing to the
heap in the smithy, as a substantial reason why
he should stop at home. But his argument was
in his heart, and to this he attended, yoking
the horse to the cart, and driving off to the pit,
without any thing to support his conduct, ex-
cept the naked impression specified. On reach-
ing the spot, a person exclaimed, in a state of
great trepidation, " Ay, Sammy, you are well
come ; such a one (mentioning the person's
name) has been nearly killed, and we want
you to pray with him!" The poor sufferer had
just been brought up from the pit, when he
arrived ; and the persons around him were
about to extract a piece of wood, which had
fallen upon him, penetrated his shoulder, and
forced its way, like the spear of Abner, through
the opposite side of his body. On perceiving
their intentions from their conduct, Samuel said,
in a hurried tone, " Do not take it out ; if you
do, he will die in a moment."* The spirit of

* How he became possessed of this opinion, or whether
he had entertained it any length of time, is difficult to state ;
but it is not a little singular to find, that it is in consonance
with the notions and practices of some of our ancestors, who,
in tournaments and ancient combats, frequently permitted
the shaft of death, which h;ul been propelled through the
body, to remain there for a short time, with a view to stanch
the blood to a certain extent — when the wound was deemed
mortal, till the person should be enabled to express his hist
will in the settlement of his affairs.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 17 J

prayer was the element in which he breathed ;
and for such employment he was always ready.
He knelt by the side of the poor man, wrestled
with God for his salvation, and obtained satis-
factory evidence of an answer to the petitions
he presented at the throne of grace. " I now
saw," says he, " for what it was that I had to
go to the pit." And yet, with this result, there
are persons professing the Christian name who
would denounce the impression as enthusiastic,
and who would, together with the calamity, in-
sert his being at the pit at that precise period
in the chapter of accidents, which occupies, in
their estimation, so large a share of the business
of human life. Only preserve religion in the
back ground, or abstract it entirely from the
subject, and these persons will talk both
seriously and poetically of the mind being
darkened, like the sunny landscape, by a sudden
cloud, auguring a coming tempest : and of such
impulses deserving attention as being the hints
of our guardian spirits that danger is impending.
All this is allowable in verse, and the poet is
admired for the sentiment ; while the heathen
philosopher is permitted to descant upon it in
prose : but the moment the man of God asserts
the fact — from whom the others have received
it, either directly or remotely, and afterward
marred by lowering it— he must be sent through
the world with the brand of an enthusiast upon
his forehead !

A circumstance not less remarkable occurred
at Pontefract — a place where Samuel was highly

172 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

respected, and where he deeply interested him-
self in the erection of a new chapel. It was
agreed, in order to aid the collection at the
opening, that each collector should deposite a
sovereign in his box, and that the collectors
should be changed each service. Samuel en-
tered into the plan with his native ardour, and
promoted, in various instances, its accomplish-
ment. On recollecting the names of friends.
who were likely to afford aid, he immediately
proceeded to their residences, and accosted
them : " Why, the friends are town to open a
new chapel in Pontefract : you intend to be
there, don't you, and to be a collector?" To
this exordium, he appended the plan, closing it
with a personal application, — " You approve of
U, don't you V In cases of approval, accom-
panied with a doubt, whether there would be an
opportunity to attend, he generally relieved
them, by observing, " I will tell you what you
must do ; you must give me a sovereign, and I
will get some one to collect for you." Such
was his success, by this mode of procedure,
that, on the day of opening, he handed over to
the treasurer nearly twenty pounds. On the
morning, he took his seat previous to the com-
mencement of the service in a pew near the
pulpit. He had promised himself much enjoy-
ment, and was just sipping of its streams, while
glancing upon the collecting worshippers,
when he suddenly became unaccountably dis-
composed. He vacated his seat, and taking
up his hat, directed his steps to the gallery,

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 173

where he placed himself by the side of a young
lady in one of the front pews. It was instantly
suggested, " Thou hast done it now,— perched

in the front for every body to look at thee,

they will think it is nothing but pride that has
led thee here." The chapel was now exceed-
ingly crowded ; and no sooner was his soliloquy
ended, than the congregation was thrown into
a state of the utmost confusion by an unfounded
alarm respecting the safety of the building. The
young lady who sat next him leaped on the top
of the pew, and was in the act of precipitating
herself into the body of the chapel, when
Samuel, with a promptitude equalled only by
his composure, prevented her, by taking her in
his arms, exhorting her at the same time to " be
still," saying, " I would rather die in a Methodist
chapel than anywhere else." He now saw
as in the case of the poor collier, a reason for
the feeling which induced him to leave his
first seat, and occupy another of such pro-
minence. An immortal spirit was in all proba-
bility saved, in the first instance, from perdition ;
human life, in the second, from a premature
grave. The female is still living, and a mem-
ber of the Wesleyan Society.

In the course of a summer of excessive
drought, a few years back, when the grain
suffered greatly, and many of the cattle, es-
pecially m Lincolnshire, died, Samuel was
much affected. He visited Knaresborough, at
which place he preached on the Lord's day
Remaining in the town and neighbourhood

174 '1 HE VILLAGE BLA< KSMITHi

over the sabbath, he appeared extremely rest-
less in the house in which he resided, during
the whole of Monday. He spoke but little —
was full of thought — now praying — now walk-
ing about the room — next sitting in a crouching
posture — then suddenly starting up, and going
to the door, turning his eyes toward heaven, as
if looking for some celestial phenomenon —
when he would again return — groan in spirit —
and resume his seat. The family, being im-
pressed with his movements, asked him whether
any thing was the matter with him, or whether
he expected, any person, as the occasion of his
going to the door so frequently. ': Bless you,
barns" was his reply, " do you not recollect
that I was praying for rain last night in the
pulpit ? and what will the infidels at Knares-
borough think, if it do not come ? if my Lord
should fail me, and not stand by me ? But it
must have time : it cannot be here yet ; it has
to come from the sea. Neither can it be seen
at first ; the prophet only saw a bit of cloud,
like a man's hand : by and by it spread along
the sky. I am looking for an answer to my
prayer — but it must have time." He continued
in the same unsettled state — occasionally going
out, and looking with intensity on the pure
azure over his head ; for a more unclouded
heaven was rarely ever seen. Contrary to all
external signs of rain, and contrary to the ex-
pectations of all, except himself, the sky be-
came overcast toward evening, and the clouds
dropped the fatness of a shower upon the earth

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 175

His very soul seemed to drink in the falling
drops. The family grouped around him, like
children around their father, while he gave out
his favourite hymn — " I'll praise my Maker
while I've breath ;" and after singing it with a
countenance all a-glow through the sunshine of
heaven upon his soul, he knelt down and prayed.
All were overpowered : it was a season of re-
freshing from the presence of the Lord.

If this relation had concerned another man
than the subject of the memoir, the biographer
would have been incredulous enough to have sus-
pended his judgment, — possibly to have doubted,
— and would have been led to inquire, whether,
by some particular signs, the person might not
have prognosticated a change. But Samuel
was too artless to be suspected— too sincere to
practise impositions— and his knowledge was
too circumscribed to subject him to the charge
of being " weather-wise." He was unable to
see so far as Columbus, who, in another case,
astonished and preserved a portion of the in-
habitants of the new world in awe, by being
able to foretel, through his astronomical know-
ledge, a meteorological appearance. Samuel
had no weather-glass upon which to look ex-
cept the Bible, in which he was taught to be-
lieve and expect that for which he prayed ;
nothing on which he could depend but God,
and Ins faith was set in God for rain. This
like some other instances which have been
noticed, is a beautiful exemplification of the
simplicity of Christianity, as it exists ir its elTecls

176 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

in an uncultivated mind ; the person receiving
every fact of Scripture history as an undoubted
truth of God, given for the encouragement, the
conviction, and the instruction of all future ages,
whether it refers to the improvement of the
mass of mankind, or the individual.

In perfect character with the preceding re-
markable fact, connected with the element of
water, is another, respecting the element of air,
both of which may yet be attested by living wit-
nesses; and which ought not to be beyond the
reach of credibility, if we believe there is a
God — that he has power over the works of his
own hands — and that he employs the elements,
not only as general sources of felicity, but on
{.articular occasions unbinds them in their opera-
tions, and lets them loose upon man, either as a
special blessing or a special scourge, in order
to prevent common good from being looked upon
with an eye of indifference. Samuel was at
Knottingly, a populous village in the neighbour-
hood of Ferrybridge, in 1817, where he took
occasion to inform his hearers, that there would
be a love-feast at Micklefield, on a certain day,
when he should be glad to see all who were
entitled to that privilege. He further observed,
with his usual frankness and generosity, that he
had two loads* of corn, and that they should be
ground for the occasion. These comprised the
whole of the corn left- of the previous year's
produce. When, therefore, he returned home,

* A load of corn at Micklefield, signifies six strokes, 01
three bushels.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. ] 77

and named his general invitation and intention,
Martha, who had as deep an interest in it as
himself, inquired very expressively : " And
didst thou tell them, when all the corn was
done, how we were to get through the remainder
of the season, till another crop should be
reaped ?" " To-morrow" alas ! rarely entered
into Samuel's calculations, unless connected
with the church. The day fixed for the love-
feast drew near — there was no flour in the
house — and the wind-mills, in consequence of
a long calm, stretched out their arms in vain to
catch the rising breeze. In the midst of this
death-like quiet, Samuel carried his corn to the
mill nearest his own residence, and requested
the miller to unfurl his sails. The miller
objected, stating that there was " no wind."
Samuel, on the other hand, continued to urge
his request, saying, " I will go and pray while
you spread the cloth." More with a view of
gratifying the applicant than of any faith he
had in Him who holds the natural winds in his
fists, and who answers the petitions of his
creatures, the man stretched his canvass. No
sooner had he done this, than, to his utter as-
tonishment, a fine breeze sprung up — the fans
whirled around — the corn was converted into
meal — and Samuel returned with his burden,
rejoicing, and had every thing in readiness for
the festival. A neighbour who had seen the
fans in vigorous motion, took also some corn to
be ground : but the wind had dropped, and the
miller remarked to him, ({ You must send for

178 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

Sammy Hick to pray for the wind to blow

again. "

O

Few circumstances, perhaps, can be adduced,
more characteristic of Samuel, than a remark
which he made in reference to the man who
11 went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and
fell among thieves.'* After commenting on the
situation of the poor sufferer — for all was real
history to Samuel, he glanced at the conduct of
the Priest, the • Levite, and the Samaritan.
Speaking particularly of the priest, he endea-
voured to apologize for him as far as he con-
scientiously could, by intimating that he might
have been " poor," in consequence of priests
not having such " big livings" then, as in the
present day. Turning at length, however,
upon his piety, he quaintly and pointedly re-
marked, " Bad as the Levite was, the priest
was the worst of the two ; for admitting him to
have been without money, he might have said
to the wounded man, ' Come, we'll have a bit
of prayer together !' " There is a volume con-
tained in this single sentence, on the habit of
devotion, which Samuel constantly carried
about with him ; and had it been a scene of real
life, and himself one of the actors, he would
have been seen sidling up to the sufTerer,
whether on the highway or at the market-cross,
— afterward devoutly kneeling — and with up-
lifted hands and heart, pleading with the Most
High for healing and strength.

His prayers were not restricted to man. He
saw as rreat propriety in praying for the resto-

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 179

ration of cattle that might be afflicted with any
particular distemper, as in soliciting the divine
blessing upon the fruits of the field, and the
seasons of the year. Thus it was, on a par-
ticular occasion, that he associated his own
horse with the cow of a friend, in his devo-
tions, both of which were unwell ; — in every
thing, in supplication and prayer, making his
request known to the Lord.

There were instances, however, of familiarity
of expression, which, though not criminal in
him, ought to be avoided ; and also something
in his manner, which was calculated to disturb
the solemnities of domestic worship. He was
in a friend's house, where he was introduced to
the company of a minister, the Rev. A. L., who,
he had heard, was paying his addresses to a
young lady, and to Mr. U., a solicitor. On Mr.
XL's name and profession being announced, he
looked askance at him, as upon an object for
which he might be charged for the bestowment
of a passing glance, quickly turning away his
head, and muttering, " Hem, a tarney .'" He
was soon absorbed in thought ; and when urged
to help himself to a glass of wine, he took it up,
and, on applying it to his lip, as if the appari-
tion of Mr. U. had shot quickly past him, he
said, " From t amies and lawyers, good Lord,
deliver us 5" Mr. II., who knew to what re-
flections the profession was subject, avoided any
observation. The case, however, was not dis-
missed : Samuel was called upon to go to
prayer. After generalizing his petitions he

180 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

took up each case separately, praying that Mr.
A. L. might be happy enough to obtain " a good
wife," as the marriage state was " the best."
Ho next prayed for the conversion of Mr. U.,
Baying, " Lord, save this torncy. What he is
thou knowest, — 1 know not ; but when he is
saved, he will not charge folk so much money
for their jobs. Thou hast saved an attorney at
Longpreston, and he gets as good a living as
any of them. Lord, save this man." After
this, he proceeded to pray for the family, min-
gling, as is too often the case, rebuke, exhorta-
tion, eye., with prayer. This is not the most
" excellent way :" besides, cowards very often
avail themselves, under the guise of devotion, of
letting off their bad feeling against their fellow
Christians in this " way," by praying at them,
instead of supplicating mercy for them. In
Samuel, it was a weakness inseparable from
his nature. Ill will had no place in him; and
his native courage never failed him, as the
following circumstance goes to prove.

A person of his own trade, who resided a
few miles from Howden, entered the place
where he was preaching, in a state of inebria-
tion, and made some disturbance. Samuel,
and some of the people, expostulated with him,
but without effecting any good end. Finding
that gentle means failed, he went up to hinj,
and by his own masculine grasp, forced him to
the door. But this, alas ! was a greater expen-
diture of peace, than a display of strength.
He felt " something wrong within," he observed,

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 181

and could find no rest, on his return from wor-
ship. He made his case known to God, and
wrestled — as though he had been the greater
criminal of the two — till he recovered his peace.
This being obtained, he retired to sleep. The
subject, however, was not dismissed from his
mind. When he rose in the morning, he found
that he could not be perfectly composed in his
spirit, till he went to the man, to ask pardon ;
for though he had settled the dispute between
God and his conscience, he knew there was
something due to the sinner, who might draw
unfavourable inferences from his example. The
man was ashamed of his conduct, and could
not but admire the spirit of Samuel, who em-
braced the opportunity of seriously conversing
with, and praying for him. Not only were good
impressions made upon the mind of the ag-
gressor, but his wife, who was under deep
conviction of sin, entered, during that prayer,
into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
When he only was concerned, and the in-
terruption of others was out of the question,
Samuel could, on the other hand, sustain any
hardship, any insult, with exemplary meekness
and forbearance ; and his strongest graces were
often put to the test. A young lady, who had
been known to him from her childhood, and
whose palfrey had lost a shoe, called at his
shop to have it replaced. She appeared de-
licate. He looked compassionately upon her,
and asked, " Dost thou know, barn, whether
thou hast a soul ?" Startled with the question,

182 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

she looked in return ; but before she was per-
mitted to reply, be said, " Thou hast one,
whether thou knowest it or not; and it will live
in happiness or misery for ever.*' These, and
other remarks, produced serious reflections.
Her father perceived from her manner, on her
return home — her residence being not far from
Samuel's dwelling — that something was prey-
ing upon her spirits. She told him the cause :
"What," he exclaimed, "has that old black-
smith been at thee, to turn thy head ? but I will
irhack (beat) him." So saying, he took up a
lame stick, similar to a hedge-stake — left the
house — posted off to Samuel's residence — found
him at the anvil — and without the least inti-
mation, fetched him a heavy blow on the side,
which, said Samuel, when relating the circum-
stance, " nearly felled me to the ground," adding,
" and it was not a little that would have done
it in those days." On receiving the blow, he
turned around, and said, " What art thou about,
man? what is that for?" Supposing it to be
out of revenge, and that religion was the cause
of it, he made a sudden wheel, and lifting up
his arm, inclined the other side to his enraged
assailant, saying, " Here, man, hit that too."
But either his courage failed him, or he was
softened by the manner in which the blow was
received ; beholding in Samuel a real disciple
of Him, who said, " Whosoever shall smite thee
on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."
He then left him ; and Samuel had the happi-
ness of witnessing the progress of religion in

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 183

the daughter. Some time after this, the person
himself was taken ill, and Samuel was sent for.
He was shown into the chamber, and looking
on the sick man, he asked, " What is the matter
with thee ? art thou boicn to die ?" He stretched
out his arm to Samuel, and said, " Will you
forgive me ?" Not recollecting- the circum-
stance for the moment, Samuel asked, " What
for ? I have nothing against thee, barn, nor any
man living." The case being noticed,* the
question was again asked, " Will you forgive,
me ?" " Forgive thee, barn ? 1 tell thee I
have nothing against thee ! But if thou art about
to die, we will pray a bit, and see if the Lord
will forgive thee." Samuel knelt by the side
of the couch, and the dying man united with
him : and from the penitence, fervour, and gra-
titude which he manifested, there was hope in
his death. The daughter continued an object
of his solicitude ; she grew up to womanhood,
— became a mother, — and he afterward exulted
to see her and two of her daughters members
of the Wesleyan Society. Four conversions
are here to be traced, in regular succession,
and attributable apparently to a word fitly and
seasonably spoken, by one of the weak things of
this world, becoming mighty through. God.

Samuel appeared, in many cases, to have
the power of accommodating his conduct to the
characters and occasions which demanded his
attention, and that too in a way which his
mental faculties would scarcely warrant ; for
while he would employ muscular force in a

184 tin: village blacksmith.

case where the intellect was inspired by the

abuse of intoxicating liquors, and bear with
meekness the arm of llesh upon himself, for
righteousness1 sake, he would at the same time
defend himself against the tongue of slander,
and subdue, by Christian means, any improper
feeling he might perceive in the professors of
Christianity themselves. A singular instance
of self-defence occurred, in the course of one
of his journeys. He was returning home by
way of Abcrford, in a stage coach. A clergy-
man, and some ladies of fashion, were his com-
panions. They were on their way to the grand
musical festival held in York Minster. The
clergyman expatiated on the delights of the oc-
casion, the innocence* of such enjoyments,

* An article in the Christian Observer of 1821, p. 250, of
which the following is an extract, demands attention; and
the more so, as, from the medium of publication, it shows the
view which the evangelical part of his brethren take of the
.subject :

" It appears to me that it is not lawful for Christians 1o
attend a concert of sacred music in a church for charitable
purposes, either as respects the performances, the pi r-
iormers, or the place. Music is, strictly speaking, ' sacred'
only when employed in the worship of God, of which the
song of praise and thanksgiving forms one of the most de-
lightful parts. Its animating and elevating influences many
Christians can abundantly testify, who have sometimes,
wnen joining a large congregation in one united chorus, been
almost ready to imagine that they caught the faint echo of
those immortal strains which cherubim and seraphim pour
forth in honour of the celestial King. But of the performers
of these public oratorios it seems almost impossible, even for
that charity which hopcth all things, not to fear, that with
them the prayer of penitence, or the glow of gratitude, the
rapture of hope, or the triumph of faith, are nothing more
than idle words — a solemn mockery of Him who demands
the homage of the heart, and declares that he ' will not hold

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 185

and the benevolence of the object. He ob-
served, that he knew of no class of persons
who would venture to hazard an objection
against such amusements, except a few " cant-
ing Methodists." He then took occasion to
launch out some violent invectives against the
body, insisting on their incapacity to form a
judgment in such cases, from the circumstance
of the members belonging to the lowest classes

him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.' Their object is
gain, and that of their auditors amusement.

"The worship of God is not for a moment in the thoughts
01 the assembly : yet for this express purpose, and this alone,
was the house of God prepared. It is written in the Old
Testament, and the obligation of the precept is confirmed by
the authority of our Saviour in the New, < My house shall
be called of all nations a house of prayer :' and did he who
once drove the buyers and sellers out of the Jewish temple
now dwell among us in a human form, we can, I think,
scarcely imagine that the votaries of pleasure would be re-
garded by him with a more lenient eye than the lovers of
gam. To buy and sell is lawful, and so may music be ; but
it is not lawful to desecrate the sanctuary of God by applying
it to any secular purpose whatever.

"To the inquiry, « Is it lawful for Christians to attend a
performance of music of a moral tendency, mixed with
sacred or of sacred only, within the walls of a theatre?' I
again answer, No. If in the former instance the perform-
ance be a profanation of the place, in this the performance
is polluted by the place. And the most strenuous advocates
lor theatrical exhibitions cannot deny that they are insepara-
bly attended by a fearful train of incidental evils, all of which
remain m equally active and equally destructive operation,
whether the audience be attracted by the genius of Handel
or Shakspeare.

" The natural tendency of music is, to cheer the spirits
when oppressed by study or fatigue, and to soothe the tem-
per irritated by the little vexations of life. It supplies a
never-fading source of innocent recreation, and generally
proves an additional bond of family attachment. Every ad-
vantage, however, which music has to bestow, may be ob-
tained in private. Should it therefore be conceded, that it

186 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

of society, finally denouncing them as a set of
hypocrites and vagabonds. Samuel, who had
hitherto avoided obtruding his remarks upon
the party, could brook it no longer. He con-
sidered himself implicated in the general charge,
and his spirit rose indignantly at it: " Sir," said
he, " I am a Methodist. I am going to the
place where I was born, and where I am well
known ; and I will make you prove your words,

is lawful for Christians to attend the concerts of miscel-
laneous music performed in the lianover-S<mare rooms or
elsewhere, I think it must be maintained that it is by no
means expedient to do so.

11 If it be possible that these musical entertainments rank
among those ' pomps and vanities' which we pledged our-
selves by our baptismal covenant to renounce — if they have
any tendenc) to make the every-day duties and occupations
of life comparatively insipid — if by this indulgence v%e tread
upon the frontier line which separates the lawful enjoyment
from the unlawful compliance — if by thus advancing to the
brink of a precipice, we become liable to fall headlong in
some unguarded moment — or though we can tread the dizzy
height in safety, should others, following our example,
stumble and fall — where is the Christian that can hesitate
an instant between the gratification of an hour and the risk
of incurring any oneof these awful possibilities '. It is always
dangerous to be conformed to this world — always safe to
deny ourselves, to take up our cross and follow our Re-
deemer. It would be less inconsistent for the philosopher
to covet the toys of infancy, than it is for the member of
Christ, the child of God, and the inheritor of the kingdom
of heaven, anxiously to desire even the most elegant and
refined of the pleasures of sense. He should ever remember
that he is not his own. His fortune, his time, his talent?,
his influence, his example, must all be devoted to the «iory
or God. Remembering the exhortation of our Lord, ' Watch
and oray, lest ye enter into temptation,' he desires not to
widen the narrow path which lcadeth unto life eternal, but
to obtain grace to pursue it with patient perseverance ; know-
ing that so only shall ' an entrance be administered unto him
abundantly of his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.' "

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 187

sir." The clergyman was a little confounded
by this sudden burst of expression, and had no
expectation of being so suddenly and uncere-
moniously subpoenaed to appear as a witness in
his own defence. It was in vain to attempt the
hackneyed method of parrying off the reflec-
tion by exempting the present company. The
character of the body was as dear to Samuel
as his own ; and he continued to bore the
reverend gentleman, till the coach stopped at
the door of the inn at Aberford. The inn-
keeper was in immediate attendance, when
Samuel and the clergyman alighted, the latter
being little aware — as under a contrary im-
pression he would have probably retained his
inside berth — that the subject would be again
agitated. Samuel accosted the master of the
house, with no common earnestness and gesticu-
lation, saying, " You know me, don't you ?" and
before he had time to receive a distinct reply in
the affirmative, pressed nearly into the same
breath, the grand question, of which the other
was only the precursor, — " Am I a hypocrite or
a vagabond ?" " No, Samuel," was the reply :
" you are known all around here, as an honest,
hard-working man." To this Samuel responded,
" I work for all I have, pay every body their
own, and get nothing for preaching." He then
pointed to the clergyman, aud recapitulated
what he had said. The innkeeper, not know-
ing the cause of Samuel's interrogatories before,
and seeing a probable customer in the clergy-
man, was not very anxious to proceed with his

188 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

answers; and the clergyman, unwilling to con-
firm his delinquency by retiring, stood a short
time. .Samuel's earnest appeals in the mean
time attracted attention ; the people thickened
around them, in front of the inn ; he proceeded
to dwell on the charges, and to point to the
clergyman, as going to spend his time and his
money at the concert. The clergyman found
himself so much annoyed by the looks, the
jokes, and remarks of the crowd, who encour-
aged Samuel in his zeal for character, that he
was glad when the horses were changed, and
he found himself safely seated by the side of
the ladies, reaping instruction, no doubt, from
the event, though not much enamoured with the
uncourteous manner in which his fellow-travel-
ler had defended himself.

Though the clergyman's opinion of the low-
bred character of the Methodists was not likely
to be much improved by the specimen with
which he had just been favoured, yet it was
only the rougher side of Samuel's integrity of
which he had a view, and which his own rasp-
ing had raised. Samuel was much better quali-
fied to repress and correct improper feeling, than
to combat erroneous notions. He attended a
lovefeast in the Wakefield circuit, when Mr.
Bradburn was stationed there. Several of the
good people were in the habit of giving out a
A'erse of a hymn before they narrated their
Christian experience, by way of tuning their
spirits for the work. This was prohibited by
Mr. Bradburn, not only as a reflection upon

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 189

himself, being both authorized and competent
to conduct the service, but as an improper ap-
propriation of the time which was set apart for
speaking. Samuel, either forgetting the pro-
hibition, or being too warm to be restrained
within its limits, gave out a verse. Mr. Brad-
burn was instantly in his majesty, and with one
of his severest and worst faces, looked at Sam-
uel, who stood up in the congregation and sung
alone, no one daring to join him — prefacing his
rebuke with one of his singularly extravagant
remarks,— " Where is the person that would
not come out of a red hot oven, to hear such a
man as you sing ?" then proceeding to make
such observations as he thought proper. Sam-
uel, supposing the rebuke to have been given in
an improper spirit, went into the vestry after
service to settle matters. Offering to shake
hands with Mr. B., who was not in one of his
most complacent moods, he was saluted with —
" What, are you the man that persisted in sing-
ing, after I peremptorily forbid it ?" " Ye — ye
— yes, sir," said Samuel ; " but I hope you will
forgive me, Mr. Bradburn :" and without wait-
ing to see how the request was taken, he was
in an instant upon his knees among the people.
Those around followed his example, and last of
all, Mr. B. knelt by his side, who found that it
would scarcely look decorous to stand alone.
Every heart was touched with Samuel's sim-
plicity and fervour ; and when he concluded
prayer, Mr. B., with a full heart, and with all
the magnanimity and generous flow of spirit he

190 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH*

possessed, stretched out his hand, familiarly
saying, " There, my brother ; this is the way —
to keep paying oil* as we go on."

Though he often overcame opposing feelings
by prayer, for which he was better qualified
than for holding a long parley on opinion ; yet
on subjects proposed by a querist, he would
change two or three sharp rounds on a contro-
verted point. '; I have often been struck," says
Mr. Dawson, " at the promptness and propriety
of his replies to persons who have proposed
objections and questions to him upon particular
subjects, and in peculiar cases. He manifest-
ed some astonishing gleams of sanctified satire,
when directed to a person or a subject, which
penetrated deep into the heart ; while sparkles
of holy wit would touch the risible faculties,
and thrill a delight through the soul of the
hearer, which neither debased his understand-
ing nor his affections. A ray of light would
sometimes dart from him in a moment, which
would instantly scatter the shades and remove
the scruples from an inquiring mind. Of this
peculiarity of talent he himself was insensible :
all was spontaneous and natural." While this
citation comes in as evidence of what has been
stated, it may be further illustrated by other
striking instances of quickness of perception,
discrimination, and point.

Having business to transact which bore hard
upon his patience, and seeing the person who
was agent for him in the transaction going
about with tho utmost deliberation, with coun-

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 191

tenance and temper as serene as the unruffled
lake, he seemed uncomfortable in the presence
of such superiority ; and yet, unwilling to un-
christianize himself, as well as sensible of the
kindly feeling he possessed toward the persons
who were the occasion of his exercises, he
said, " We are both perfect ; you are perfect in
patience, and I am perfect in love." Though the
theology of this is questionable, as a general
position, yet in its particular application to
Samuel, there is more truth in it than at first
might appear ; for if he excelled in any one
branch of " the fruit of the Spirit," it was in love.
To a gentleman labouring under great ner-
vous depression, whom he had visited, and who
was moving along the streets as though he was
apprehensive that every step would shake his
system in pieces, he was rendered singularly
useful. They met ; and Samuel, having a deep-
er interest in the soul than the body, asked,
" Well, how are you getting on your way to
heaven ?" The poor invalid, in a dejected, half-
desponding tone, replied, " But slowly, I fear ;"
intimating that he was creeping along only at a
snail's pace. « Why, bless you, barn," returned
Samuel, " there were snails in the ark." The
reply was so earnest, so unexpected, and met
the dispirited man so immediately on his own
ground, that the temptation broke away, and he
rose out of his depression. It was a resurrec-
tion to his feelings ; inferring, that if the snail
reached the ark, he too, " faint, yet pursuing,"
might gain admission into heaven.

11)2 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

Perhaps one of his happiest conquests in
oral controversy was obtained over the Rev.
K., of Leeds, a gentleman of great shrewd-
ness and learning. They were both on board
a Sclby steam-packet, going down the river
toward Hull. Samuel was walking the deck,
and humming over a hymn-tune, which ap-
peared to attract the attention of Mr. K., who
abruptly opened out upon him on the evils of
Methodism, suspecting him to belong to that
body, from the character of the music. He in-
sisted on the mischief it had done by the tenets
it propagated, particularly instancing the doc-
trine of sanctification, for which, he contended,
there was no foundation. Though Samuel did
not appear to be personally known to Mr. K.,
yet Air. K. was not unknown to him ; to whom
he instantly returned, " See that you never read
the Church Prayers again, for I am sure there
is full sanctification in them." " No such
thing," was the reply. " What," said Samuel,
" do you not pray that the Lord would cleanse
the tlioughts of the heart by the inspiration of
the Holy Spirit ? See that you do not read
that, sir. next Sunday." Mr. K. finding himself
pressed from this high quarter, and partly con-
ceding the principle, by flying to what he
deemed its effects, asked, " What good has the
doctrine done ?" gliding, as a diversion of the
subject, into the general topic of Methodism
again ; demanding, " What have the Methodists
effected ? Bad women are on the increase ;
Leeds is swarming with them." " How is

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 193

that ?" inquired Samuel : " I was in Leeds the
other week, Lnd never met with one." " I
know," rejoined Mr. K., " that there never were
so many as there are at present." " Happen
so," replied Samuel, as though he had reached
the end of both his patience and his thoughts :
" it may be that you are better acquainted with
them than me, sir." This was quantum svjficit,
and Mr. K. left him to hum over his tune to the
remainder of the hymn. Pungent, however,
as the last remark may have seemed, it would
have been found, if Samuel had been interro-
gated upon it, that there was as much of con-
cession intended for superior knowledge, as
there was of any indirect reflection upon moral
character ; and ten minutes would scarcely
have elapsed, till — from other subjects occupy-
ing his thoughts — he would have been as in-
sensible to what had passed as though he had
never exchanged a syllable with the gentleman
that spoke to him.

Singing was one of his favourite employ-
ments, both in company and alone. Engaged
thus, as he was riding along the road once, in
company with Mr. Dawson, and another friend
or two, he seemed lost occasionally to the soci-
ety of his fellow-travellers. He had got hold
of a tune which was in use among the Ranters,
so called. This he continued to hum over, in
the same way as when he walked the deck, ex-
claiming at short intervals, " Bless the Lord for
a fine shower !" The rain continued more co-
pious in its descent ; — his companions buttoned

13

194 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

up, and turned their sides to the weather, sink-
ing the lower part of the face into the collate
of their coats ; — Samuel Ming on, sensible only
of his mercies, again exclaiming, " Bless the.
Lord for a fine shower!" One of his compan-
ions, as much annoyed with the time as by the
rain, objected to it as an indifferent one. " Sing
a better, then," said Samuel, turning his head
as suddenly from him as he had directed it to-
ward him, still singing and keeping time to the
amble of the horse, lacing the weather, and
praising the Lord for watering the earth. The
friend again complained of the tune, and again
solicited another. " Sing yourself," said Sam-
uel. " I have no voice lor ibe work," was the
reply. "Don't complain," rejoined Samuel,
"of what you cannot mend," again directing
his face to the shower, and his mind to the
Giver of it, absent every now and then to all
companionship, and as happy, though satu-
rated with the teeming contents of the clouds,
as if he had been sheltered under his own
roof.

Though he possessed the power of occasion-
ally accommodating himself to existing circum-
slances, and particular companies, isolated in-
stances occurred, when he was perfectly lost
to the respect due to the habits and feelings of
others. He was led by inclination to a public
meeting of the Society of Friends, and took his
seat in the midst of them. This was an ordi-
nance, and an assembly, for which he was the

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 195

least fitted, either by nature or by habit ; and
although he had often sung —

" A solemn reverence checks our songs,
And praise sits silent on our tongues,"

he never till now knew what it was to live un-
der the restraint of praise. " The songs of
Zion" were in his heart, in which he was sing-
ing, and making melody to the Lord, as many
of the worshippers around him might have been
employed : but having read of Paul and Silas,
under less agreeable circumstances, adding to
the music of the heart the variations of the
voice and the motion of the lips — rising in their
strains till " the prisoners heard them," and em-
bracing the notion that praise only receives its
perfection in utterance, he either so far forgot
himself, or was otherwise glowing with such an
intensity of feeling while musing, that the long
silence observed in the commencement became
insupportable. He. took his hymn-book from
his pocket, and starting on his feet— his huge
figure receiving elevation from tlie seated and
lowering position of those around him, said,
" Come, let us sing a verse or two." Neither
the voice nor the language belonged to the
place; a number of eyes were instantly fixed
upon him ; and strange feelings were stirring,
till a venerable man' arose, who knew him, and
accosted him, saying, " Samuel, sit thee down,
and wait." The mandate was obeyed, without
reply or murmur ; and all was suddenly as still

196 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

as before. After waiting some time in silence,
during almost every minute of which Samuel
expected some one to rise and address the as-
sembly, but no attempt being made, he again
bounded from his seat, under an impression
that prayer might be more acceptable than
praise, and said, " Let us kneel down, friends,
and pray a bit." Just as he was in the attitude
of kneeling, the same venerable man stood up,
and with great solemnity again addressed him,
" Samuel, sit thee down, and wait till the
Spirit moves thee." Less docile than before,
Samuel returned, " We Methodists think it very
well, if we can have the Spirit for asking ;" re-
ferring with great readiness to that passage of
Scripture, " If ye then, being evil, know how
to give good gifts unto your children : how
much more shall your heavenly Father give
the Holy Spirit to them that ask him ?" Though
Samuel was correct in doctrine, he was here
erroneous in conduct, and had forgotten his own
dislike of interruptions in divine service, when
worshipping God agreeably to the dictates of
his conscience, under his own "vine, and
under his fig-tree "

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 197

CHAPTER IX.

His self-denial — Sympathy for the poor — Graticude for
mercies — Early rising — Singular band-meeting- -The best
way of beginning the day — His conduct in the families he
visited — Bolton — Ratcliffe Close — Often abrupt in his man-
ners— His views of proprietorship — A genuine Wesleyan —
An attempt to purchase him — His character as the head of
a family — Gives up business — Preaching excursions — Visits
Rigton — Providential supply — His public addresses — De
light in his work — E. Brook, Esq. — Denby Dale — Prosperi-
ty of the work of God — A new chapel — Samuel visits Roch-
dale— Rises superior to his exercises — takes a tour into dif-
ferent parts of Lancashire — Great commercial distress —
Liberality of P. E. Towneley, Esq. — Meeting for the relief
of the poor — Samuel's return home — Visits different parts
of the York circuit — Revival of religion — Persecution .

As Samuel had obtained the grace which
enabled him to " rejoice evermore," he seemed
to create a paradise in every circle in which he
moved. Whenever he was oppressed — which
was rarely the case — it was either on account
of the wants and miseries of others, or occa-
sioned by an overwhelming sense of his own
mercies. Thus, on being urged to take more
food at table, he has been heard to say, in sea-
sons of commercial and agricultural distress,
" O no : I cannot take more while I think of
so many around me nearly starving for want of
bread."

So, also, on being entertained out of the or-
dinary line, in the house of a friend, his grati-
tude, like the thermometer, rose to the highest
point. He was at Pontefract during the bustle
of an election, and was lodged in the house of

198 THE VII.I.AOF. BLACKSMITH.

Mr. M., a member of the Society of Friends,
whose family was strongly attached to Samuel.
He was honoured with the best fare, the best
room, and the best bed, the last of which was
unusually high. On being asked the next day,
how he liked his lodgings, he said, " Why,
born, I have been crying half the night ; I never
was in such a bed before ; I had to take a chair
to get into it. 0 how I wept ; for I thought
nay Lord never had such a bed as that." This
was properly " the joy of grief." Samuel dwelt
much upon his Saviour ; the " servant" and the
" Lor<V afforded him some amazing contrasts,
and drew forth the finest feelings of his soul.

But he had his " songs in the night," and his
morning carols, as well as his tears. " He was
in the habit,'' Mr. Dawson observes, " of rising
very early in the morning, (about four o'clock,)
and of partially dressing himself, when he
bowed his knees before his divine Father,
praying first for the church in general, next for
particular characters, and lastly for special
cases. He then sung a verse of a hymn — re-
tired to bed again — and after a short time arose,
and began the day with praise and prayer."
The occasion of this systematic proceeding is
known to few. Samuel had a band-mate, with
whom he met for some time, and to whom he
was much endeared. Four o'clock in the
morning was the hour of meeting ; and this
was selected, not only because of its tranquil-
lity, but because it prevented self-indulgence.
His companion died, and he mourned his loss

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 199

like the stock-dove, whose mate had just sat
by his side on the same bough, and had dropped
off through the hand of the fowler. The hour
and the ordinance were held sacred by the sur-
vivor. He rose at the appointed time — sung —
prayed — unfolded the secrets of his heart to
God, as he was wont to do with his Christian
friend — thus going regularly through the ser-
vice, as though the dead were still alive, and
by his side, holding converse with him. This
is one of those mementos of Christian friend-
ship which rarely occur in the same form ;
but while its singularity excites the surprise of
some, its piety will secure the admiration of
others, and amply atone for any peculiarity in
its manner. Those, only, perhaps, will indulge
the laugh, who, nevertheless, have their anni-
versaries, cj-c, but support them in another way,
by toasting each other over the maddening bowl,
and cheering each other with the speech and
the song, till they become objects of pity,
rather than subjects for imitation.

The summary account of his matins, as given
by Mr. Dawson, is exemplified by a particular
case, as recorded by the family of P. Rothwell,
Esq., of Sunning Hill, Bolton, in whose house
Samuel at one time resided for the space of
nearly three weeks. " He frequently rose," it
is remarked, '; in the night to pray. On one of
those occasions he was heard singing a hymn,
after which he pleaded with God that he might
enjoy a closer walk with Jesus, and his prayer
was soon turned into praise. He repeated

200 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

several times, ' O that I could praise thee ! O
that I could praise thee as I would! — but I
shall praise thee again when I pass over Jor-
dan ! Glory! glory! glory!' He then prayed
for his family, the family he was visiting, the
church of God, and for the world at large. He
appeared to feel much while pleading for sin-
ners, and then was borne away in transport for
redeeming mercy. Some time after he rose
from his knees, his language was, ' Glory !
glory !' '' He has been known on some of these
occasions to indulge in a sublimity of thought
of which at other times he was incapable, and
which — taken in connection with the whole man
would have fixed upon him, by some gifted be-
ings, had they overheard him, much more ap-
propriately than ever was applied to Goldsmith,
the epithet of " an inspired idiot/' and he would
have stood a fair chance of being deified among
the Mohammedans.

Such a beginning was an excellent prepara
tion for the duties, the exercises, and the mer-
cies of the day ; and it will be generally found,
that its close will correspond with its com-
mencement. The man who permits God to
hear his voice in the morning will not himself
be silent, nor yet mourn an absent God in the
evening. These " morning communings" se-
cured attention to " stated times" for retirement
through the day, when he entered into his
closet before his Father, who sees in secret,
and rewards openly ; and this is the secret of
that charm which was thrown around his spirit

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 201

and demeanour in social life. He came forth
in the morning, like the sun from his chambers
in the east — refreshed and refreshing. Happy
in himself, he chased away melancholy from
the soul, and lighted up a sunshine in the coun-
tenances of those with whom he conversed.
" No family," said a friend, in whose house he
had been resident some weeks — " No family
could be miserable with whom he lived, because
he laboured to make every person around him
happy." Mrs. Bealey, of Ratcliffe Close, near
Bury, in Lancashire, a lady well qualified to
appreciate real worth, whether religious, moral,
or intellectual, and under whose hospitable roof
Samuel was entertained nearly two months, ob-
served to Mr. Dawson, " That he interested
himself in the welfare of the whole family, as
though he had been united to them by the ten-
der ties of nature. He participated in all their
pleasures, as well as increased them, and was
rendered truly useful to the men and children
employed in the works. He sympathized also
with persons with whom he was acquainted, in
their losses in cattle or trade, as though he had
been the loser himself." It was the love and
joy within, which, as is remarked elsewhere
by Mr. Dawson, "gave a beam to his eye, a
smile to his countenance, a tone to his voice,
and an energy to his language, which melted
and attracted every heart that came within the
sphere of his influence."

This attractive influence was not always
sudden, but it was rarely otherwise than cer-

202 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

tain. On his first visit to the residence of a
gentleman in Lancashire, to whom till then he
was personally unknown, he was directed to
the house accidentally. He rode up to the door
of that gentleman, and after having seen his
horse put under the care of his servant, he en
tered the house, where he was introduced into
the parlour. Without either letter or person
to introduce him, and with no other passport
than the connection of the family with the Wes-
leyan body, he took his seat in the domestic
circle, where he sat, unconscious as innocence
or infancy of any other prerequisite for social
enjoyment, than the religion of his Saviour
The habits of the gentleman, and the society
in which he moved, rendered him at first un-
comfortable ; and he was equally at a loss to
know what to do with, and what to make of, his
new and unexpected guest. A short interlude
assisted in relieving the first feeling. The sit-
ting-room door was opened, and a person stepped
in, with whom the master of the house had to
transact a little business. Samuel's presence
added to the poignancy of his more delicate
feelings. However, he was there, and the per-
son was at liberty to suppose, if he judged
proper, that Samuel was on business as well
as himself. He sat in silence, and appeared
to take no notice of either party. When the
transaction was closed, and the person rose to
retire, Samuel started on his feet, as though he
had been awakened from a trance, " Stop, sir,
let us pray a bit before you go : you seem full

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 203

of the world, and we'll try to get it out of your
heart." This rendered the occasion of his
visit desperate ; and nothing but violence could
be done to the feelings of his host to render
such conduct supportable. But there was no
time for excuse or remonstrance ; Samuel's voice
was the warning clock — no sooner heard, than
on his knees. The effect of this may be as
readily conceived as expressed. Yet notwith-
standing the coy beginning on the part of the
gentleman, he was soon led to place the high-
est value on Samuel's piety and presence, and
continued to entertain both man and horse for
some time ; and so much regard did his homely
visiter gain from himself and his family, that
they parted with sincere regret.

Even in families where religion was not pro-
fessed, his simplicity of manner, and general
good character, gained him unhesitating access.
When the Rev. A. Learoyd was on the Knares-
borough circuit, he went to preach at a neigh-
bouring village, and on entering the house of a
friend, he found Samuel seated, who had just
arrived. " Where have you put your horse,
Samuel ?" inquired Mr. L. " I have left it at
the other end of the village," was the reply ;
adding, " will you go with me to the house ?"
Mr. L. being aware that the family had no con-
nection with the Wesleyan body, asked, " Why
did you go there ?" " I saw plenty of hay,
and good stables," returned Samuel, " and I
thought it would be a good home for Jackey."
The singularity of the visit led Mr, L. to accede

204 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH,

to his wishes ; and on being seated in the fam-
ily circle, Samuel proceeded to interrogate his
host on the state of his soul. Considerable
fluency characterized the replies : but Samuel,
being suspicious that very little religion was
enjoyed, proceeded to speak more plainly, ex-
horting him to apply to Christ for converting
grace. The word of exhortation was well re-
ceived, and he was pressed to remain the night
with them : the invitation was accepted, and he
acted the part of a priest in the family. " Let
me," said he to the servant-maid, " have a dry
bed ;" and to the servant-man, " You must give
Jackey plenty to eat : — take good care of him,
for he is the Lord's horse ; — the hay and the
corn are the Lord's also." Abrupt as was his
introduction here, and little as such freedoms
are to be recommended, either in Samuel him-
self or as examples for others, yet the family
were much pleased with his visit. Such lead-
ings and movements, in irrational creatures,
would be attributed to instinct; but Samuel was
girded and carried often, like Peter when he
was old, by "another" than himself; and he
was more indebted to the Spirit and providence
of God for his introduction and reception than
either to his sagacity or the formalities of mo-
dern manners.

His representation of " the hay and the
corn," as belonging to the Supreme Being,
arose from a settled principle in his creed, and
included a certain exclusiveness, not generally
recognized by the professors of Christianity

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 205

His own crops were viewed in the same light;
and his mind was so imbued with this notion,
that all delegated or personal right, in reference
to man, seemed frequently annihilated. He
was going tu preaching one sabbath morning,
when he was met by a person who knew his
regard for the sanctity of that day. There had
been a great deal of rain, which proved fatal
to the " line" or flax crops. The following is
the purport of what passed between them on
the road : —

Neighbour. " Where are you going, Sammy ?"

Samuel. " To preaching."

Neigh. " More need you get your line in,
now that God is giving you fine weather."

Sam. " He does not give fine weather for us
to break the sabbath."

Neigh. M Why, you see others making hay
while the sun shines : they will get their line
in to-day, and yours, if you let it lie till to-mor-
row, and it should be wet, will be spoiled."

Sam. " I have none to spoil, barn."

Neigh. " Is not yon, lying down (pointing
to it) yours V

Sam.. "No."

Neigh. " What, is not yon your close ?"

Sam. " No, it is the Lord's : he has a right
to do with it what he likes ; and if he have a
mind to spoil it, he may : it is his own, and no
one has any business to quarrel with him for it.
It is the Lord's day too, and I will give it to
him."

A brief dialogue, also involving the same

206 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

principle, took place in the neighbourhood of
Ferry Bridge, when Samuel was journeying
from thence homeward. A gentleman was
passing with a little boy, and having his atten-
tion drawn to some sheep that were grazing in
a field adjoining the road, he accosted Samuel :

Gentleman. " Do you know, my good man,
to whom those sheep belong ?"

Samuel. " My Lord, sir."

Gent. "They are very fine ones ; I do not
recollect ever having seen their equal."

Sam. " They are a fine breed, sir."

Gent. " I thought they might probably belong
to Mr. Alderson, of Ferry Bridge."

Sam. " No, sir, they belong to my Lord ;
don't you know, that the earth is the Lord's,
and the fulness thereof; and that the cattle
upon a thousand hills are his V

Gent. " You are right — you are right, old
man."

Samuel's reply would have been a mere play
upon words in the mouth of many other per-
sons ; but he was sincere ; and the gentleman's
attention was suddenly and unexpectedly ele-
vated from earth to heaven, without his being
offended by the manner in which it was done.

With regard to " Jackey," who occupied such
a prominent place in Samuel's esteem, and who
is only noticed as bearing upon his master's
history, it may be remarked, that on one occa-
sion Samuel displayed a feeling respecting the
treatment of the animal, which was not at all
common to him. One of the voimjr men be-

*r cm

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 207

longing to a family at whose house he stopped,
withheld the meat from " Jackey," and other-
wise failed in his attention as groom. It came
to Samuel's knowledge, and for a considerable
length of time he utterly refused to go near the
place again. In process of time he went back,
but he would never take his favourite with him ;
thus showing, that while he entertained no re-
sentment— by his own return — the only feeling
remaining was that of distrust in reference to
his horse.

Wherever Wesleyan Methodism was re-
spected, Samuel was sure to be loved. He
was a genuine believer in its doctrines, a living
witness of its experimental truths, an example
of its purest morals, a firm supporter of its dis-
cipline, and a warm friend of its ministers. Of
the latter, he ever spoke with respect and affec-
tion ; and if his holy indignation was at any
time kindled, it was when persons endeavour-
ed to lower their character, by cold oblique
hints, in the eyes of the world, and when an
apparent delight was taken in sowing discord
among brethren. Satisfied with his privileges,
he avoided such as were given to change. He
was accustomed to say, "I am determined to
remain in the old ship. She has carried thou-
sands across the ocean, and landed them safe
in glory ; and if I stay in her, she will carry
me there too."* Speaking once of a person

* Samuel was not without his inducements to leave the
body. Mr. Sigston, who has taken such a prominent part in
the late division at Leeds, became offended in 1803, and

208 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

who had acted in the capacity of a local preach-
er, but had afterward united himself to another
society, he resorted to his favourite figure of the
" old ship" and inquired why he had left her,
after she had borne him so long in safety ?
The simile was taken up by the other, who in-
timated that she was in danger of foundering.
Samuel returned, " You should not have been
such a coward as to leave her, but should have
remained on board, either to help to mend her,
or prevent her from going to the bottom. But
you have forsaken an old friend ; I know she
is sound at heart, and as safe as ever." " My
wife and I," said he to another person, " are
sailing together in her. Some of our children
are with us ; we are getting stronger ;" and
then, with a fine glow of feeling, would exclaim,
" We shall all sail to heaven together — I know
we shall.'' This figurative mode of expression
was rendered very popular in a sermon preached

formed a small society, whose members received the appella-
tion of Sigstonites. They held their meetings in a room
which was taken for the purpose in Kirkgale. The head of
this small party was known by a few of the friends belong-
ing to the Pontefract circuit, among whom two exhorters,
and two accredited local preachers, espoused his cause, the
latter of whom were never very remarkable for submitting
to rule. These took with them about thirty members of the
society, and occupied a school-room in Knottingly, erected
about ten yards from the Methodist chapel, by a person who,
though not in society, took unspeakable pleasure in promo-
ting the division. Samuel was earnestly importuned to
unite himself to the Knottingly dissentients, and was told,
as an inducement,, that he should have a certain sum pre
sented to him as a compensation for his labours, wherever he
preached. It argued an ignorance of Samuel's character,
to think thnt he was to be bought by gold.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 209

by the late Rev. Joseph Benson, on schism,
about the time of Mr. Kilham's defection from
the body ; and it was one of those figures
which Samuel could work without much dan-
ger of being wrecked in its management.

The religion which he carried into the fami-
lies of others, and recommended in his public
walks, was not without its influence at home.
Though Martha and he could not always see
eye to eye, in money affairs — and it was fortu-
nate for him that they could not — yet he was
an affectionate husband, as well as a tender
father. He moved before his family more, per-
haps, in the character of a priest, to pray for
them, than a prophet and a king, to instruct and
govern. He was fitted for the one rather than
the other ; and such was his attention to the
family altar, such his prevalent intercession
before it, that his incapacity for the two latter
appeared to be greatly counterbalanced by the
hallowed character of the former. He bore
his partner and his children constantly before
God, in the arms of faith and prayer, and lived
in full confidence that the whole would be
saved. If any of his opinions, more than
others, bordered upon extravagance, it was
upon the certain salvation of the children of
praying parents. The possibility of perdition,
in the case of any of them, was beyond en-
durance.

Though he took excursions to different places,
from the period of his becoming a local preach-
er, yet it was not till the latter part of 1825, or

14

210 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

the beginning of 1826, when he gave up busi-
ness, that lie took a more extensive range, and
considered himself as doing the work, and
therefore entitled to the name and honours of a
home MISSIONARY; He was then possessed
of what he deemed sufficient for the support of
himself and his aged partner, during the even-
ing of life. Being now at liberty from the
trammels of business, he was invited into seve-
ral circuits in Yorkshire and Lancashire, allot*
which he visited, preaching in the different
towns and villages, and in many of which he
was not only useful in the conversion of sin-
ners, but in raising pecuniary supplies for the
support of foreign missions, the erection and
relief of places of worship. .

While gratifying the benevolent feelings of
his heart, in obeying the calls of the people,
he not unfrequently suffered various inconve-
niences, notwithstanding the kindness of friends.
An instance which occurred a short time prior
to this part of his history, but which it would
not be well to omit, betokening great absence
of mind on the part of the persons on the spot,
presents him under very unpleasant circum-
stances. He attended a missionary meeting at
Rigton in the Forest, a place belonging to the
Otley circuit, about three or four miles from
Harrowgate. " We had a blessed meeting,"
said Samuel : " I was very happy, and gave all
the money I had in my pocket." After the
meeting was concluded, he mounted his horse
to return home. And in what aspect is he to

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 21)

be viewed? Without, any one offering to pay
his expenses — not the value of a farthing in his
pocket — advanced in life — a slow rider, and
not a very sprightly horse — near the end of
October, when the season was breaking up — in
the night — alone — and about twenty miles from
his own house. He became the subject of
temptation. It was suggested — " No money to
procure a feed of corn for thy horse, or re-
freshment for thyself — and friends who might
receive thee are gone to bed !" The struggle
was short ; and the victory was obtained in his
own way. Satan found no place in him for
either repining or distrust. " I shaped him his
answer," observed Samuel, "and said, 'Devil,
I never stack fast yet.' " With his confidence
invigorated by a recollection of past mercy, his
happiness returned, and he remained the only
nightingale of Christianity on the road, till he
reached the village of Harewood. Then a
gentleman who knew him took his horse by the
bridle, and asked him where he had been. He
gave him, in reply, an account of the meeting ;
from which the gentleman glided into the sub-
ject of his temporal concerns, in order to ascer-
tain apparently how far a report was correct,
which he had heard respecting some property
out of which Samuel had been wronged. Sam-
uel told him that he had " had two thousand
pounds left" to him, but had " been deprived of
it."* "lam very sorry for you," was the re-

* The report heard by the one, and the language employed
by the other, would scarcely comport with the subject, if

21l4 IMIi VILl.AUi; BLACKSMITH.

joinder. Samuel replied, M Though 1 have
been deprived of this, it has never deprived
me of an hour's sleep. I never had a worse
lot for it. 1 have not wanted for any good
thing, and could always say with Job, ' The
Lord gave, and the Lord taketh away : blessed
be the name of the Lord.' Though he took
Job's, he has not taken the whole of my pro-
perty : I still have all my children." The gen-
tleman asked, " Can you read ?" " Yes,'1
returned Samuel, " if I had my spectacles out
of my pocket." " There," replied the gentle-
man, holding a piece of paper in his hand,
which was rendered visible by the glimmering
light of the stars — " There is a five pound note
for you. You love God and his cause ; and I
believe you will never want." Samuel's eyes
were instantly filled with tears, and his heart
with gratitude. " Here," said he, " I saw the
salvation of God. I cried for joy all the way
as I went down the lonesome lanes ; and when
I got to a public house, I asked the landlord if
he could change me a live-pound bill ; for I told
him I could not have any thing for myself or

applied to a particular event which took place. Martha's
brother, who had a considerable sum of money on interest
in Royd's Iron Works, near Leeds, expressed a wish to live
and die with Samuel ; proposing to allow the interest for his
maintenance during life, and the principal at his death.
The proposal was accepted — her brother resided with them
— the Company at the Iron Works failed — the whole of the
property was swept away — Samuel's hopes were blighted,
yet he generously kept him in his own house till the day of
his death, and thus prevented what must otherwise inevita
bly have ensued — his going to the workhouse.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 213

my horse, unless he could change it. He said
he could, if it were a good one. So I got off
my horse, and ordered him a good feed of corn,
and had some refreshment for myself. This
was a fair salvation from the Lord. When I
got home, I told my wife ; she brast (burst) into
tears; and we praised the Lord together." This
was viewed by Samuel somewhat in the light
of a triumph over Martha, who had chided him
in the morning for taking so much money from
home with him, to a missionary meeting, to
which he gave his time, his labours, and ex-
penses. He therefore added, by way of making
his path more open to the purse in future,
" You see, we never give to the Lord, but he
gives in return."

His addresses in the pulpit rarely extended
beyond half an hour. This afforded time to
engage in the work which was his favourite
employment — a prayer meeting ; and these
meetings furnished him very often with a
knowledge of the progress of the word of life,
as the benefits received under preaching were
more fully developed in them, as well as che-
rished by the intercessory prayers of the faith-
ful. Having the unction of the Holy One — an
anointing which he received from him that
abode in him — he was enabled to proceed in
the work with cheerfulne-ss, and very often
carried with him a commanding authority over
the feelings and conduct of others. He was
frequently under high excitation ; so much so,
indeed, as sometimes to overpower his physical

214 Tin: \ili.agf. blacksmith.

energies. " 0," said he to his friend Mr. D.
once, after a missionary meeting at Howden,
in which he had pleaded the cause of the
heathen on the platform, till he was nearly ex-
hausted— " O," said he, " I am so happy. I
shall surely die some of these times!" On
another occasion, when at Pontefract, he re-
marked to a friend, after the meeting, with
ecstatic feeling, and in his own peculiarly ex-
pressive language, " I felt as though I should
have swclted (melted) away to heaven." This
is no common thought — not even to be ex-
ceeded by Pope's " Dying Christian," whom
lie represents as languisldng into life. It is
only in cases like this that we feel the force
of Coleridge's remark in the motto selected for
the memoir ; and feel, too, a disposition to sub-
scribe to the sentiments of a critic, in a number
of Blackwood's Magazine, where he observes,
" That the knowledge that shone but bv fits
and dimly upon the eyes of Socrates and Plato,
whose eyes rolled in vain to find the light, has
descended into various lands as well as our
own — even into the huts where poor men lie ;
and thoughts are familiar there, beneath the low
and smoky roof, higher and more sublime than
ever flowed from the lips of a Grecian sage,
meditating among the magnificence of his
pillared temples." Though, the expression,
" pleading the cause of the heathon," may be a
little too argumentative in its character, when
applied to the speeches and addresses of the
" Village Blacksmith," and may excite the

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 215

laugh in those who employ the head, to the ex-
clusion of the heart, in such work ; yet Samuel's
honest and pathetic appeals very often touched
the feelinsrs and raised the " cash accounts'' —
raised perhaps with a smile — when the dull
spirits, sapless speeches, and tedious readings
of those who could see a greater curse in a
little incoherence and hilarity than in luke-
warmness, produced only listlessness and a
yawn.

A still more expressive sentiment was em-
ployed by him, when preaching once in his
own neighbourhood, on " The Spirit and the
bride say, Come. And let him that heareth
say, Come. And let him that is athirst come.
And whosoever will, let him take the water of
life freely." He expatiated on the value and
uses of water, as far as common observation
allowed him to proceed, — passing from that
element to the "■ water of life," which formed
the prominent feature of his text, — urging the
freedom with which it was offered, — and finally
impressing his hearers with the importance of
the subject. He told them, in speaking of its
value, that he himself was unacquainted with
it, — that he doubted whether any of his hearers
knew how to appreciate it, — that he doubted
whether there was a person upon the face o.
the earth who knew its worth, — nay, further,
that he did n^t believe an angel in heaven
could enter into its merit, — that, in short, ho
never heard of but one who knew its real value,
and " that was the rich man in hell, who would

216 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

have given a world for a drop of it." The
climacterical manner in which he thus worked
his way up to the point which he wished to
gain — like St. Paul's light afflictions and eternal
weight of glory — the amazing contrast between
a world and a drop — that drop solicited by a
tongue of fire — and the eternal destinies of his
hearers suspended on their acceptance of offered
grace, to prevent the untimely knowledge of
its worth by its loss in perdition, would have
done honour to the first orators, in the best
days of classic Greece and Rome.

During some of his moments of inspiration,
he would manifest considerable impatience,
when he was likely to be deprived of an op-
portunity of giving vent to the overflowings of
his mind. A speaker at a missionary meeting,
who prosed a good deal, inflicted a heavy
punishment upon him in this way. Long be-
fore he had concluded, Samuel appeared ex-
tremely uneasy. " Sit still, Sammy," said the
chairman in an under tone, being near him, and
on terms of intimacy. " He is too long by the
half," returned Samuel. After sitting awhile,
with his hands clenched, and fixed between
his knees, as in a vice, he again manifested
symptoms of restlessness ; when again the
chairman endeavoured quietly to impose silence,
and inspire a little long-sulTering. Various
rounds were exchanged between them, one re-
questing the other to "be still," and the other
requesting that the speaker, who was uncon-
scious of what was passing in the rear, might

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 217

be told to " give over." The good brother con-
tinued prosing, without the least sign of coming,
in any moderate length of time, to a close.
Samuel, at length, started up — who, by the
way, spoke only the feelings of others, who
possessed more self-command and prudence,
though less courage, and said, turning to the
chairman, " Sir, that brother does not love his
neighbour as himself; he does not take the
Scriptural rule of doing to others as he would
that others should do to him, for he will let no
body speak but himself." Here the business
dropped between the parties ; the speaker be-
ing left to take the credit of having pleased all
except Samuel, and Samuel brushed up his
better feelings to engage the attention of the
people during the few moments allotted to him,
as the seconder of the resolution. Being
coupled on another occasion with a popular
speaker, Samuel turned to him, and said, " They
have paired us like rabbits."

The Rev. J. Roadhouse, having heard either
that he had actually declined business, or was
on the eve of it, invited him, in the beginning of
October, 1825, to pay the friends a visit at Cross
Hills, a place in the Addingham circuit. A
few weeks passed over, and not having heard
from Samuel, the invitation began to wear away
from recollection. About the middle of No-
vember, Samuel one day unexpectedly made
his appearance, mounted on " Jackey." The
latter was cheerfully provided for by a friend,
$nd Samuel took up his abode with Mr. Road-

218 THF VIT.T.AGE RIACKSMITH.

house. He generally accompanied Mr. R. to
the different places of preaching — commenced
the service with singing and prayer — spoke
from ten to twenty minutes — and then gave
place to Mr. R. to conclude the service. On
one of these occasions, he broke oft' his address
rather abruptly, and suddenly stepping back in
the pulpit, said, " Brother R. will now preach
to you, for two sermons are better than one."
A good feeling having been excited, Mr. R.
commenced his address, by an allusion to the
words of the Jewish monarch, " What shall the
man do who cometh after the king ?" Samuel,
before any application could be made, ex-
claimed, " Do ! you will do well enough, only
go on." The service terminated much better
than this unexpected interlude at first promised.
Two persons were deeply affected with his
public address ; and at another place five per-
sons were brought to a state of penitence.

The great commercial depression which dis-
tinguished the close of this year was just be-
ginning to be experienced. Many of the poor
people in Addingham and its neighbourhood
sold part of their furniture, and whatever they
could spare of other things, in order to procure
food. Samuel visited them ; and after haA'ing
given all the money away which he had deemed
sufficient for his journey, a poor boy entered
the door- way of a house where he was sitting.
The weather was cold, and the boy was with-
out neckerchief. Samuel pitied him — asked
for a pair of scissors — took his handkerchief

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 219

from his own pocket — cut it into halves — and
tied one of them around the neck of the poor
little fellow — rejoicing in the opportunity af-
forded of clothing the naked.

He remained here nearly three weeks ; and
just as he was leaving Mr. Roadhouse, to pro-
ceed to his friends at Grassington, he thanked
him for his kindness toward him, and then with
tears said, " You must let me have some money
to pay the toll bars, and get Jackey a feed of
corn." Till now, Mr. R. was not aware that
he was pennyless ; and yet, in the midst of it,
he seemed more mindful of his horse than of
himself. After having spent a short time at
Grassington, he visited Skipton, where he re-
mained three weeks, and was rendered very
useful in different parts of the circuit. Miss
Lister of Colne,(now Mrs. Howarthof Clithero,)
having heard much of his zeal, and power
with God in prayer, sent an invitation to him to
spend a few days at her house. Here also he
tarried nearly three weeks, taking occasional
rambles into the Burnley circuit. Some of the
persons who were brought to God through his
labours during this visit have reached the goal,
and others are pressing toward the mark, in
order to obtain the prize. From Colne he pro-
ceeded home, where he remained but a short
time, yielding to other invitations.

We find him in the neighbourhood of Hud'
dersfield and Denby-Dale, in the latter part of
January, 1826, with E. Brook, Esq., as his
companion in labour. His attention to others

220 THE VII. LACK BLACKSMITH.

led him to neglect himself; and the latter, find-
ing him without a proper winter covering,
purchased an excellent top-coat to preserve him
from the cold. But though he was thus equip-
ped, and could speak of " plenty of coals" and
" good fires," the " cold storms" which howled
around him, and the heavy " snows" which fell,
kindled the sensibilities of his nature toward
Martha, whom he had left at home, and whom
he addressed in his letters, as his " dear bosom-
friend." In a letter dated January 24th, from
Denbv-Dale, he exhorted his daughter to do
all in her " power" to " make" her " dear mother
comfortable" — to " keep her well happed up by
day and by night" — to " give her a little wine to
nourish her" — assuring her that she should " be
recompensed" — requesting her to write imme-
diately should any thing untoward take place —
and telling her, that he bore them all up, " both
in public and private, at a throne of grace."
He solicited a " long letter" in return, inform-
ing him how they were " going on in the best
things ;" whether or not " Mrs. Porter" was
dead; and then, with the fondness of a grand-
father— the cherub forms twining around his
heart, and romping about in his imagination —
he adds, " Let me know how mv dear grand-
child does," and say whether she can yet
11 run," holding out " her bonny little hand."
This is a stroke of pure nature. The autumn
of life turns away from the gloom of its winter,
and seems to be perpetually reverting to the
freshness, and bloom, and loveliness of its

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 221

spring, as though anxious to live it over again
in the innocent child, or by feeling after it, and
catching hold of some of its joys, it experienced
a kind of resuscitation, and went forth with
renewed vigour.

While in this quarter he spoke of having
" plenty of work, and good wages" — the wages
of " peace, joy, and love," — of sinners being
" saved," — of " backsliders" being healed, — of
God placing " the ring" on the finger, and " the
shoes on the feet" of the returning " prodigal."
His mind, he observed, was " kept in perfect
peace ;" and such was the joy he experienced,
such his " prospect of glory," when he arose
one morning, that he concluded that the Lord
was either about to " fit" him " for some trial,"
or to grant him instant preparation for his
" glorious inheritance." He had been engaged
in the. course of the week in which he wrote
in begging for a chapel, " the ground" of which,
he observed, was given to him by M Mr. D., of
Highflats," a member of the Society of Friends ;
and the week after he purposed going to " Penis-
tone," to assist in begging for another chapel in
that place.

In his perambulations among the sick and
the poor, he entered the house of a woman
with seven children, who had only had one
pound of animal food for the family for the
space of about four weeks. Her tale of distress
required no embellishment to find access to the
ear and heart of Samuel. As soon as he heard
it, he gave her some money to procure " a meat

222 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

dinner" for herself and children the following
day.

After " finishing his work," as he termed it,
in that neighbourhood, he returned home, where
he again remained but a short time. He set off
for Rochdale in February or March, taking Brad-
ford on his way, at which place he was pressed
to remain from Tuesday to Thursday, preach-
ing at Great-Horton and Low Moor, and holding
prayer meetings. On reaching Rochdale, where
he had some family affairs to settle, he found
ample ground for the exercise of his patience,
through the nefarious conduct of a female and
some others, wrho had appropriated to them-
selves the wearing apparel and other property
which was left to his wife by her sister, Mrs
L., denying at the same time such appropria-
tion. His want of confidence in the gentlemen
of the law made him decline all legal measures ;
and his faith in God led him to believe that
things would work around to a proper point, in
the order of Divine Providence ; and though tried
at first, he soon lost all sense of wrong, in the
means of grace in which he was constantly
engaged, the prospect of a visit to Manchester,
and the services connected with the opening of
a new chapel at Rochdale, stating the amount
of the collections and subscriptions " to be nearly
two thousand pounds," and exhorting Martha to
make progress in piety, and to solace herself
with the thought that though she was deprived
of her right in her sister's wardrobe here, she
should hereafter receive " a white garment,'

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 223

one that would " never grow threadbare." With
what kind of grace Martha received the ex-
hortation and encouragement, is not for the
writer to state : but she must have viewed it as
a poor apology for indifference in his own
cause, as well as an inadequate protection from
the cold of winter. Muffled up in his " new
top-coat," and forgetting his advice to his daugh-
ter, to " hap" her " mother by night and by
day," he now, with the opportunity before him,
of adding to her attire, seemed to act on the
comfortless principle of " Be ye warmed," or as
though she had been all spirit, and the bare men-
tion of a future state was sufficient to kindle a
fire that would warm the whole system. But
Martha found she had a body as well as a soul :
however, she knew he meant well ; and this
was only one case among many in which she
had to bear with him, and to look for " treasure
in heaven," as a substitute for a little more
upon earth.

Though he rose superior to the trials of this
case, when immediately engaged in preaching
and visiting, yet there were moments when its
hardships returned upon him, so as to lead him
to dwell upon them in conversation with his
friends. Mrs. L., one of Martha's sisters, was
possessed of £600 on her marriage. The in-
terest of this, should she die first, was to be
enjoyed by her husband, and then the principal
was to revert to her own family on his demise.
Contrary to the original agreement, .£500 of
this was made over by the husband to a member

224 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

of hib own family, and Martha was cut oti
with the remainder. To secure this, she was
obliged to visit Rochdale, in order to sign the
writings ; and being extremely infirm, the ex-
pense, added to the difficulty of conveyance,
rendered the journey painful and tedious.
Samuel thought, on coming to the whole of this
property, that he would be able to devote more
of his time to the public service of his Saviour.
Looking back upon the expense, trouble, and
disappointment, he observed to Mr. Dawson
once, " I have prayed to the Lord, that he would
send me no more miser money." Mr. D. very
significantly returned, M I dare say your prayer
will be answered, Samuel."

Having received invitations to different places,
and being generally mounted on his blind, but
favourite horse, " Jackey," whom he esteemed
for his works' sake — having carried the heralds
of peace for some years around the York circuit
— he was enabled to extend his circle. It was
in the course of this journey that he left, as
previously promised, his MS. life with the
writer at Manchester. He extended his circuit
to Bolton, Clithero. Colne, Addingham, Grass-
ington, Burnley, Padiham, Bacup, Rossendale,
Bury, RatcliiFe Close, and many of the adjacent
and intermediate places. The absence of the
Rev. \V. M'Kitrick from the Burnley circuit,
who had been called to Leeds to attend to some
family arrangements, led Samuel to remain
longer in Burnley and its neighbourhood than
in some other places, being requested to attend

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 225

jo Mr. M'K.'s appointments. The effects of
the " general panic," so called, were still ex-
perienced, both by the manufacturers and their
men ; and few districts suffered more than the
one from fifteen to twenty miles around the circle
in which he laboured. The sick and poor were
the objects of his constant solicitude; and
many were the scenes of distress he witnessed,
as well as the cases he relieved. Writing to a
friend, he remarks, " I have seen much suffer-
ing and many privations since I saw you. The
sufferings of the people have been neither few
nor small. I have been in the midst of them
for three months ; and I believe my dear Lord
and Master has sent me here. What with
praying with the people, and what with begging
for them, I have had full employment. I was
so affected one night that I could not take my
rest." Though he took a fair sum of his own
money into the neighbourhood with him, it was
soon exhausted. The friends were kind to him in
granting him supplies ; but he was always poor ;
for no sooner were his resources recruited,
than he flew to the haunts of wretchedness,
prayed with the people, conversed with them,
and wept over them. One circumstance which
affected him more than almost any other which
came under his observation was the case of a
poor child, whom he saw sitting and satisfying
the cravings of hunger by devouring some
grains which had been brought from a brew-
house.

On finding the demands made upon his bene-

15

226 I Hi: VILLAGE BLACK8Ml1fI.

volence pressing him beyond what he was able
to endure, he asked some friends whether some-
thing could not be done by way of public sub-
scription. He was answered that the bulk of
the people were poor, and that the manufac-
turers were equally distressed with the persons
they had employed, and were obliged to dis-
miss, because of a want of trade and public
confidence. He was informed, however, that
there was one gentleman in the neighbourhood,
of great opulence, who was capable of im-
parting seasonable and adequate relief — only,
the informants intimated, that he was a mem-
ber of the Roman Catholic Church, and might
not be quite accessible to persons making Pro-
testant appeals. " No matter what he is," re-
turned Samuel, " the people are not to starve."
Addressing the same friend in the letter just
referred to, he observes, " I asked them to go
with me, but they refused, because of his re-
ligion. I told them, that the Lord had the hearts
of all men in his keeping, and that he kept the
hearts of the Roman Catholics also. I went
to the Lord and asked him to go with me." It
was too late in the evening for him to present
the case ; but he was up betimes the next
morning, when, mounted on his favourite horse,
he proceeded to Towneley Hall, near Burnley,
the residence of Peregrine Edward Towneley,
Esq. He knocked at the door, and the knock
being answered by a servant not in livery,
v. horn he thought sufficiently gentlemanly in
i>i " or pearance to be the master of the domain

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 227

he asked at once, " Are you Mr. Towneley,
sir ?" Being answered in the negative, he in-
quired, " Can I see him, sir?" The servant re-
plied he could, and showed him into a room,
Mr. Towneley soon appeared, and with his
usual promptitude, frankness, and condescen-
sion, inquired the errand of his visiter. Mr.
T., though perfectly gentlemanly in his manners
— which the biographer knows from personal
interview — yet happens to be one of those
characters who prefer their real worth to be
brought to the test of the understanding and the
heart, rather than in the show of fashion and
finery to the eye ; his attire, therefore, being
somewhat less prepossessing than that of the
person who opened the hall door, Samuel had
recourse to his old question, to ascertain the
fact—" Are you Mr. Towneley, sir V This
point being settled, he proceeded with his
" tale of wo" — stating what he had seen, heard,
and done, finally bringing the subject home to
the bosom and to the coffers of his auditor. " I
am come, sir," said he, " to relate to you the
suffering state of the poor in Burnley. I have
been a month in the neighbourhood ; and my
employment has been to visit them. Many of
them are without religion. It affects my mind
that I cannot help them. I have given all
the money I had ; I am now between fifty and
sixty miles from my own home ; and if I had a
turnpike-gate to go through, I have not a penny
to pay it with. If something is not done for the
poor, they will be pined to death, and it wil]

228 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

bring a judgment upon our island." " The
poor," returned Mr. Towneley, " must be re-
lieved ; but how is it to be done ?" Samuel
replied, " The best way will be to call a meet-
ing of the respectable inhabitants of the town,
and to form a committee ; and then present
relief will be given." Mr. T. was affected with
his simplicity, and being convinced of his in-
tegrity, observed, that if any measure could be
devised to promote the public good, he would
with great pleasure accede to it, and would set
the example of a public subscription. He
further added, that he would be glad to meet a
committee of gentlemen, at the earliest period,
and at any hour of the day. Samuel proceeded,
" This noble man sent the next morning, by
his steward, £150 for the sufferers." A public
meeting immediately followed for the purpose
of taking into consideration the distress of the
poor; and if the "Village Blacksmith" had
not the credit of entirely originating — of
which perhaps few will be disposed to rob
him — he was, at least, the cause of hasten-
ing it.

Suffering in this case, as in many others, led
to violence. " But," said Samuel, ': my soul
was kept in perfect peace in the midst of all.
Our friends would not let me leave them till
the disturbances ceased. I prayed for the
people, and warned them of their danger. I
told them, that if they did not drop it, they
would be cut off; and the Lord stayed the
wrath of man. When the Lord works, he

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH, 229

works like a God.* He stopped the way of
the wicked."

The writer attended a missionary meeting at
Clithero, in the course of the spring, at which
Samuel was present, and at which he spoke.
Samuel preached on the occasion, early in the
morning, and improved the case of the jailer at
Philippi, recorded in the Acts of the Apostles,
taking for his text the 31st verse. Many of the
thoughts were original — some of them touching
— not a (ew pertinent — but, as a whole, without
connection.

Though his addresses, from a want of classi-
fication, might be brought under the general
appellation of truth at random, still it was
truth ; and as such, God, in the aboundings of
his mercy to the sinner, and in condescension
to the instrument, honoured it with the stamp of

* A poor, but pious negro-woman, being addressed by her
teacher on the goodness of God, was asked, whether she
was not astonished at his mercy in giving his Son, and his
condescension in giving that Son for her. She replied, she
was not. Supposing she was not sufficiently impressed with
the subject, and defective in the fine feeling of gratitude, he
continued to expatiate on the vastness and freedom of his
love, giving additional emphasis to his language, and colour-
ing to his subject, closing again with the question, "What,
are you not astonished at this ?" " No, massa," was still
the reply. Turning upon her with a degree of impatience,
" And why are you not astonished?" he inquired. " Why,
massa, me no astonished, because it be just like him !" The
simplicity and sublimity of this sentiment, which borders
upon that of Samuel Hick, but leaving him still in the rear,
both for originality and beauty, is rarely to be equalled by
the sayings of persons in educated society, and fills us with
regret to think that the body of a mind so fit. for freedom,
ohould be in bondage to one probably many degrees her in-
tflrior in intellect.

230 Till. \ III. AUK BLACKSMITH.

his own signet. A person but indifferently
skilled in incentives to vanity, asked Samuel
one day, how it could be accounted for, that
while some of the most polished and systematic
discourses of some preachers fell pointless upon
the hearts of the hearers, his homely addresses
took such effect. " Why," returned Samuel,
•• their preaching is like a line ; they go straight
forward, and only hit one ; but mine goes out
and in — to the right and to the left, and running
this way and that way among a crowd" — as
though he had a cracker running riot in his im-
agination, thrown among the spectators from
the hand of a person displaying fire-works —
:- it is sure to strike some." He employed the
same metaphorical language, on another occa-
sion, to the Rev. James Wood, only varying it
in his application. " I cannot," said he, " go
straight forward in preaching ; but when I miss
my mark in going, I often fell them in coming
back again." Another friend, urging upon him
the propriety of employing something like system
in his addresses, told him to divide and sub-
divide them like his brethren. He was not
aware apparently of Samuel's want of the power
of classification, or of his peculiar views of pre-
paratory composition. Listening to his adviser,
with his face toward the ground, as was some-
times his habit, he turned his view upward, on
the closing sentence, and with an expressive
look, as well as peculiar tone, both indicative of
rt belief that the speaker was not very well
versed in the grand secret of useful preaching,

THE YlLLAUr BLACKSMITH. 231

" Why, bless you, barn," said he, " I give it
them hot off the bakestone !" indirectly intimat-
ing, that the spiritual "bread" provided by many
of the systematizers was very often cold, in
consequence of the time employed in prepara-
tion, before it reached the people. He had long
wished the Rev. R. Newton to preach at Mickle-
field ; and, as an inducement, proposed to give
two of his own sermons for one by Mr. Newton,
which he thought — with equal sincerity and
simplicity — would be an equivalent, both in ac-
tual labour and probable usefulness. This, in
Samuel, was not the language of pride and self-
sufficiency : he " spoke as a child."

It appears, that during this tour to " the west,"
the "laborious work," as he expressed himself,
through which he had to pass, was such as to
reduce his physical strength. But in the midst
of it he could sing, "Labour is rest, and pain is
sweet ;" and then would exultingly exclaim
" God has been with me ; if I have lost weight
in body, I have gained it in soul. He has
given me strength according to my day." Hor-
ton, Wakefield, and other places, were visited
on his return. At one of them he took for his
text 1 John i, 7, and was rather pleased than
otherwise to find that a gentleman had taken
his sermon in short-hand ; and still more so, to
know that he had been benefited by it, though
not a little surprised to be presented by him
with half a sovereign at the close of the ser-
vice. While in the Pately-Bridge circuit,
which was another of the scenes of his labour,

232 Tin: vii.i.m.i. BLACKSMITH.

in the course of this excursion, he wrote from
Mr. Bramley's, Brown Bank, and in his letter
observes, " I am where my soul and body rest
in peace — peace that the world can neither give
nor take away — a peace that is constant."
The body and soul resting in peace, has all the
ouiet about it of a saint silently waiting in the
grave for the morning of the resurrection ; and
it was this feeling that rendered the " laborious
work" just referred to easy, like St. Paul's
" light affliction."

Home had still its attractions, but his zeal
permitted it to become only a partial resting-
place. Passing over some other fields of labour,
we find him toward the close of July, as ap-
pears from his letters, exercising his talents at
Stamford-Bridge, Copmanthorpe, Acomb, and
other places in the York circuit, and pressed
to pay another visit to Bolton. One part of his
business was to beg for a chapel ; and " for
every sovereign" received, he observed, " God
gave his brethren and himself a soul." But
though "plenty of money" was obtained, "no
small stir" was made by the enemies of religion
when they witnessed the grace of God in the
new converts. In the neighbourhood of Stam-
ford-Bridge, especially, persecution showed its
odious front, in the steward of a gentleman of
landed property, who threatened 1o turn the
farmers off their farms, if they persisted in
attending the ministry of the Methodist preach-
ers. Samuel " thought this a very haTcl case,"
and proceeded at once to the fountain head for

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 233

redress — to the landed proprietor himself. He
told the gentleman that he came to "beg a
favour." On being asked the purport of his
request, he replied, " To ask you to let your
tenants have the same liberty the king grants
his subjects." Though partly alive to the sub-
ject, the reply demanded farther explanation ;
and Samuel added, " To let your tenants go to
the Methodist chapel." The gentleman, with
considerable warmth, interposed his interdict,
stating, that they should not. Samuel conti-
nued to urge his plea, by affirming that the
tenants objected to were the best " church-
goers" in the neighbourhood— that there was
service in the Established Church only in the
forenoon — and that they wished to hear the
Methodists in the afternoon. The threatening
of the steward, which now appeared to be only
the echo of the master's voice, was repeated
and confirmed ; and one of the reasons assigned
was, that the " Methodists" were " a disaffect-
ed people." This was a tender point. " Sir,"
said Samuel, "you do not know them so well
as I do. I have known them fifty years. They
are the most loyal body of people living, and
they are doing more good than any other peo-
ple upon earth : and, sir, I think it is very hard
that you should attempt to prevent your tenants
from praying to God, who is sending his judg-
ments abroad in our island, when prayer is the
only weapon that can turn them aside." Sam-
uel, alas ! was dismissed without obtaining the
object of his petition : but he still exulted in

234 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

the firmness and perseverance manifested by
the persons against whom the threatening was
directed, and over whom it hung like an angry
cloud ; rejoicing especially in one whom he
claimed as a " name-sake."

He paid another visit to York, and Stamford-
Bridge, in March, 1827 ; and in a letter, like a
song of triumph, observed that he was in his
" element" — had " lived to see good days" —
never " saw such a revival before" — that if the
Lord would only grant him the desire of his
heart, a :£ general revival," he would then "say,
with old Simeon, Now, Lord, let thy servant
depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy
salvation" — that he had been "assisting to hold
a lovefeast ," and though he had been " a Me-
thodist for so many years," he never expe-
rienced such a lovefeast in all his life — that the
sum of "eleven pounds had been collected in
it for the poor" — that the " family increased"
so rapidly, another chapel would be necessary
— that the " friends in York liked" his " doc-
trine of sanctification" — that several had ob-
tained " liberty" while he was preaching in St.
George's chapel — and that " some had been
sanctified ;" then turning upon Martha, whom
he was addressing, he proceeded, " I hope you
are getting hold of the hem of our Lord's gar-
ment. You shall be made whole. I know you
once enjoyed sanctification.* The fountain is

* Martha deprived herself of an occasional blessing,
through the natural warmth of her temper ; and the great dif-
ference in Samuel, between his converted and unconverted

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 235

still open. The Spirit and the bride say,
Come."

In the course of this visit, a young man
heard him preach, who stood rebuked before
God under the word. Nature and grace had a
powerful struggle in the onset : he was so ex-
asperated at Samuel, as to avow, if he ever
went again to hear him, he would " take a rope
and hang him with it." Still the subject of
conflicting feelings, he went once more ; but
the lion no longer shook his mane for the con-
test: a little child might have led him. The
same voice which roused his fury, allayed
it : he became calm — heard with attention —
mixed faith with hearing — believed — and was
saved.

state, is perceptible in the effect he permitted it to have upon
his mind. Jn the first instance, he either rebelled or fled
from it ; in the second, he was all meekness, exhortation,
and anxiety, to see her enjoying the perfection of the dispen-
sation under which she lived. On one occasion, prior to his
conversion, he left the house with an intention never to re-
turn. A friend asking him why he relented, Samuel repli
ed, "Why, barn, as I was crossing the field, I saw the bonny
white lambs playing ; they looked so innocent, and happy,
that I thought I could not leave them, and to went back
again." He was a mere child of nature, and nature here,
with its innocent gambols, laid a firmer hold of his heart,
than the recollection of his vows before the marriage altar.
But now, as Martha had often to bear with him, so. uncom-
plaining, he bears with her ; and mutual good is the object of
both. Samuel's is not the first heart that has been smitten
with tenderness at the sight of a lamb ; and than the first
glance of the first lamb of the season, there is scarcely any
thing more calculated to awaken the sensibilities of our na-
ture. The associations are too obvious to be insisted upon ;
and a heart so susceptible of the tender and the innocent, is
capable of being led in any direction, and wound up to any
pitch.

236 THL VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

CHAPTER X.

His first visit to London — Dialogue at an inn on the road
— Wesleyan Missionary Meeting — Preaches at Southwark
—Exalts divine truth at the expense of human knowledge —
Persons benefited by his addresses — His notions of nervous
complaints — His second visit to the metropolis — Mrs. Wrath-
all ; her character, experience, and affliction — Samuel's gen-
eral views and feelings, as connected with his second visit
— Pleads strenuously for the doctrine of sanctification — Is
both opposed and supported in it by persons of the Baptist
persuasion — Receives a gentle admonition from Martha — A
specimen of one of his public addresses, when in one of his
most felicitous moods.

His visit to the metropolis, which has only
been incidentally noticed, deserves to be intro-
duced distinctly and at large. He was there
twice ; and though a period of eight years
occupied the space between, they are here
classed together, not only because of the affin-
ity of subject and place, as has been observed
in other cases ; but because of the nonimport-
ance of the one compared with the other, ren-
dering a distinct notice less necessary.

It appears in a communication from Mr.
Wrathall to the writer, that Samuel's " first visit
to London was in May, 1819," on which occa-
sion " he remained somewhat more than a
month." Though he had a daughter in London,
then housekeeper to Mr. W., and other relations
in the neighbourhood, a more powerful spring
was found in the general annual Wesleyan
Missionary Meeting, to give an impetus to his
movements toward the metropolis, than eithei

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 237

in friendship or relationship. On this trip, he
remarks, " I had a very pleasant journey, as I
had the Lord with me ; and the weather being
tine, made my way very comfortable. I sung
hymns in the night to keep me awake." On
the coach arriving at Retford, time was allowed
for the passengers to take refreshment, when
Samuel and the other persons on the outside
alighted, together with four gentlemen from
within. Samuel, having as usual beat " quick
time," suddenly disappeared. One of the
inside passengers inquired pleasantly of the
coachman where the man was who "had been
so merry on the top," and was answered, that
he had " gone into the kitchen." A request
was immediately sent, inviting him into the
dining-room, with which he complied. The
room, the table, and the provision, at first
surprised him. To the occasional and alter-
nate interrogatories of each, he replied ; the
substance of part of which is as follows, and
for the brevity of which every coach-traveller
will be able to furnish an answer, having been
repeatedly saluted with the horn, when his ap-
petite has urged him to stay.

Gentleman. " We have sent for you, to ask
you to sit down at table with us."

Samuel. " I am obliged : but I have ordered
the waiter to draw me a pint of ale, and I have
plenty of beef and bread with me."

Gent. " You have been such good company,
we have agreed to treat you with your supper.''

On this he sat down, and partook of their

238 the villam; blacksmith.

hospitable cheer ; the four gentlemen and him
self constituting the party.

Gent. " How far may you be going this
road?"

Sam. "To London."

Gent. " How far have you travelled ?"

Sam. "From Micklefield, near Ferry Bridge."

Gent. " What business calls you up to
town ?"

Sam. "I am going to a noble missionary
meeting."

Gent. " Don't you think you h*ave a poor
errand?"

Here an armistice was instantly proclaimed
between Samuel and his supper, and looking
expressively at the speaker, he said,

"Sir, I would not turn back, if you were to
give me five pounds for doing it."

Gent. " Perhaps not. Who pays your ex-
penses ?"

Sam. "I pay my own, sir. I have plenty of
money ; and if you dispute it, I will let you
see it."

Such a confession, in some societies — as he
had upward of jC170 upon him — would have
been prized, and his ignorance of the world
might have been improved upon ; but he was
in honourable company. On his offer being
declined, another of the gentlemen struck in —

" There is a great deal of money spent upon
the heathen. If we are to suppose that the
Lord will never send them to a place of pun-
ishment for not believing- in a Saviour of whom

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 239

they have never heard, would it not be much
better to let them alone ?"

Sam. " The Lord has declared, that he will
give his Son the heathen for his inheritance,
and the uttermost parts of the earth for his
possession— that the gospel of the kingdom
shall be preached in all the world— and that
then will come the end, when all shall know
him from the least to the greatest."

He could not enter into the subtleties in
which the question was involved, and with
which it has often been perplexed by the self-
ish, and unbelieving, and the designing ; but
he cast anchor in God's designs, commands,
and promises, which were the general notions
he wished to express — his design to save, his
promise to give, and his command to preach to
the heathen ; and there he remained riding in
safety : what God commanded he considered
himself bound to perform, and what he had
promised, he knew he was faithful to fulfil.

Gent. " Do you intend to deliver a speech
on the occasion ?"

Sam. " O no : I expect there will be a num-
ber of gentlemen at the meeting, from all parts
of the world, and I hope to have the pleasure
of hearing them make their noble speeches."

Gent. " If you will promise to make a speech,
we will come and hear you."

The conversation was interrupted by the an-
nouncement of the horses being ready to start.
Samuel resumed his seat and his song, and ar-
rived in safety the next day in London. At

240 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

the public meeting he found his way to the
platform ; and to his great surprise, one of the
gentlemen who had regaled him with his sup-
per at Retford took a seat next him, and pre-
sented him with an orange ; but he was still
more astonished, when the gentleman's name
was announced as R. F., Esq., of Bradford,
Yorkshire, who was called upon to second a
resolution.

The first chapel he preached in was that of
JSouthwark, and the second, Hinde-street. On
the first occasion he took one of his favourite
texts, James i. 27. A gentleman accosted him
after the service, in a frank way — ll My good
old Yorkshireman, though I could not under-
stand the whole of your language, part of which
might have been Danish for any thing I know
to the contrary, yet I have had my soul
blessed under your sermon." Samuel replied,
'* It makes no matter, sir, what the language is,
if the soul only gets blessed."* The gentle -

* This circumstance was afterward related and improved
by Samuel in a missionary meeting, in away equally expres-
sive of his ignorance and his piety. Some observations had
been made on the labour requisite to acquire the languages,
before a missionary could be able to address himself to the
heathen, so as to be understood. Samuel, who was always
impressed with the notion that he was called to be a mission-
ary, and took his visionary voyage to the West Indies, noticed
in a preceding page, as an intimation of it, not only saw his
own way more clearly to go abroad, but believed he per-
ceived a much shorter cut across the field of labour and travel
for others. The Southwark gentleman was produced by him
as an example of the power of truth to bless, without a
knowledge of the language in which it was conveyed. This
case seemed to impart new light— removed every impediment
— set a missionary immediately upon his work ; and in its

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 241

man invited him to spend a day at his house,
stating, on Samuel observing that, as a stranger,
he would not be able to find his way, that he
would send his servant to conduct him thither.
While he was yet in the vestry, taking a biscuit
and a glass of wine — a treat with which he
had been but rarely indulged in small country
places — a lady entered, inquiring, under strong
feeling, whether she could see the minister.
Samuel supposing the inquiry to be for one of
the preachers on the circuit, who was present,
kept his seat. The preacher went up to the
lady, and requested to know whether it was the
person that had been preaching she wished to
see. Casting a glance around the place, and
seeing Samuel, she exclaimed, " O yes : that is
the person." Samuel sprang from his seat,
with his wine and biscuit in his hand, saying,
'' What do you please to want with me, ma-
dam V " O, I wish to tell you, sir," was the
reply, " what I felt while you were preaching.

novelty, Samuel appeared to have lost sight of the apostle's
observations on an " unknown tongue." His error lay, not
in a distinction — had he been able to comprehend it — be-
tween truth in the spirit and truth in the letter — between hu-
man language as addressed to the ear, and the power of God
as felt in the heart — between sound and sense — between
what a man may hear and what he may feel ; — but in taking
it for granted, that it was that portion of the address which
the gentleman did not understand, rather than that which he
did, which was so beneficial to him — in taking it for granted
that a special case might be applied as a general rule — and
in supposing that the use of the understanding would be sus-
pended rather than the word should return void, and the
work of grace should not go on. He now, in his simplicity,
added to his call, his qualification — the latter founded on an
erroneous view of the overwhelming power of God.

16

242 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

A trembling came all over me, and I could not
hold a limb still." Samuel, who had but one
cause for all these things, and happened to be
correct in this instance, as well as in many
others, said, "It is the work of the Spirit of
God, and we will return the Lord thanks for it."
The proposition was accepted ; and he ob-
served, " Though she was dressed in fine silks,
which crackled again, she knelt down on the
vestry floor, and, while pleading, the Lord
blessed her soul."

Another case came under his observation,
which was more obstinate than that of the lady,
and assumed to him an air of novelty. He was
sent to pray with a gentleman, whose affliction
was stated to him to be a " nervous complaint."
His own nerves being of a wiry make — living
in a neighbourhood of health — and moving
generally among that, class of people whose
nervous system is kept continually braced by
labour and by the breeze, he had to take both
his head and his heart to school on the subject.
The malady assumed an awful appearance to
him ; for when he entered the room, he re-
marked, that the person " was sunk so low,
that he lay on the sofa like a dead man." As
he had but one cause for the stirrings of the
human spirit, so he had but one cure for most
of our maladies. Faith in Christ was his heal-
all, and was his grand specific here. He spent
nearly a whole day with the gentleman, either
praying with him, or sitting by his side, singing
hymns, relating his experience, exhorting him

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 243

to the exercise of faith. In his addresses he
told him, that it was only u holy medicine" that
" could cure" him, and that " all the doctors in
London could not cure a nervous complaint, for
it was a soul-complaint." On parting, the gen-
tleman entreated him to repeat his visit, and
added, " I would freely give all I possess to be
as happy as you are." This case made a deep
impression on Samuel's mind, and in his reflec-
tions afterward, he remarked, " I pity any one
who is troubled with this dreadful complaint ;
but 1 believe many fall into it for want of faith.
They reason with themselves, and with the
enemy, instead of reasoning with God, who
says, ' Come, and let us reason together.' "
Little as honest Samuel knew of the subject,
he might have been farther wrong, than in sup-
posing that mental agony will induce physical
debility. While we cease to wonder that the
gentleman should look upon his state as envia-
ble, we are convinced that no one, except a
child in spirit, could have sat and sung hymns
by the side of so much misery — of one whose
spirit was tuned only for a " dark-woven lay."

The principal part of his time was occupied
in visiting the sick, and in attending the ordi-
nances of God ; and thus engaged, he might
well say, " I was very happy all the time I was
in London." Business requiring his presence
at home, he remained only a month in the me-
tropolis.

His second visit was in 1827, but the day
and the month when he set ofT are uncertain ;

244 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

a correspondent connected with the family
stating it to have been in May. while a letter
written by himself bears testimony of his
having been in Yorkshire in the month of July.
The memory might have possibly been depend-
ed upon in the first instance ; and the first visit
having been in May, might have been the oc-
casion of the error. His daughter Rosamond
had entered the marriage state with Mr. Wrath-
all, in the interval of his visits. This took
place in 1824; and it was on account of her
long and severe indisposition that he took the
present journey. The following brief narrative
of this excellent woman, whom it may be pro*
per here to introduce, was published in the
obituary of the Wesleyan Methodist Magazine,
by the Rev. Richard Reece.*

" Mrs. Rosamond Wrathall was daughter of
Mr. Samuel Hick, of Micklerield, Yorkshire ;
a man generally known, and highly esteemed
for his usefulness among the Methodists for
nearly half a century ; and who, with his pious
wife, considered it their duty to impress upon
the minds of their children the great truths of
the gospel. Early indications were given that
the heart of Mrs. Wrathall was under the influ-

* 1828, p. 499. A curious "ProspectU3 for publishing the
Life of the late Samuel Hick, of Micklefield," issued from
the press in the summer of 1830, which promised to " con-
tain the experience and happy death of Mrs. Rathall of
London, daughter of the deceased, who died while he was
in London." It is presumed that the late Mrs. Wrathall
was intended by the author, and that, through his ignorance
of the subject, he adopted another name.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 245

ence of divine grace. At the age of seven
years her mind was enlightened to see the evil
nature and dreadful consequences of sin. Al-
though she was humble and teachable, and very-
dutiful and affectionate to her parents, yet she
felt the need of pardon, and of the purification
of her nature. The period at which she re-
ceived the blessing of justification through faith
in the merits of Christ is unknown ; but it must
have been at an early age. During the whole
of her Christian course she was an ornament
to her profession, and was greatly attached to
the Methodist connection. She refrained from
evil speaking, and used her influence to restrain
the practice of it in others. She put on the or-
nament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in
the sight of God of great price. Her disposi-
tion was naturally generous ; and after her con-
version she was constantly devising liberal
things. She spared no labour nor expense to
alleviate the necessities of the poor, and lead
them to Christ. She was a pattern of integrity
and piety. At the commencement of her long
affliction, she was deeply convinced of the need
of a farther work of grace upon her heart ; and
desired that her excellent father might be sent
for, that she might enjoy the benefit of his
counsel and faithful prayers."

Samuel, after a safe journey, alighted at the
Saracen's Head, and proceeded to the house of
his son-in-law. He found Mrs. W. very much
indisposed. The blessing she sought had been
the subject of his preaching and conversation

246 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

for many years, as well as the experience of
his soul ; and his child's anxiety for it led him
to dwell upon it more than usual, in public and
in private, as also in his correspondence during
his stay in London. " Her mind," continues
Mr. Recce, " became more and more calm and
stayed upon God ; she received the blessing of
entire sanctification, which she so much de-
sired, and continued in the exercise of prayer
and thanksgiving to the end of her life."

During Samuel's second stay in this human
ant-hill, whose swarms are always in motion,
and whose streets gave him the notion, in his
own language, of a constant "fair" he labour-
ed under the impression that a great work was
to be done — done instantly — and that he was
to sustain a share in the toil and in the glory.
He sighed over the irreligious part of the com-
munity, composed, as he stated, of "Jews,
Turks, Infidels, and Barbarians," all of whom
might " believe" in the existence of a " God,"
but "lived as though there were none;" con-
cluding, that if it were not for the " few right-
eous" to be found in the city, it would at once
be "destroyed like Sodom." With these views,
and with a heart thus affected, he embraced
every opportunity of rendering himself useful,
and could speak of having " plenty of work" —
of being often " tired in it, but not of it" — of
" preaching in chapels and in the open air" — of
making " collections for chapels and for schools"
— of "visiting the sick" — attending "lovefeasts"
— assisting in " prayer meetings" — dining and

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 247

praying on board some of the vessels on the
Thames — and, in the midst of all this, of hav-
ing "plenty of friends," and of being "hearty
and happy." One of the vessels having to per-
form only a short voyage, and having reached
her destination before he left town, returning
with fruit and spice, he took care devoutly to
connect with his notice of her safety, the prayer
meeting which he himself and some friends
held " in the cabin," before her departure ; and
also to exhort Martha, who was not likely to be
benefited by any part of the cargo, to make pro-
gress in piety, and both he and she would here-
after be indulged with a taste of the " grapes" of
the kingdom, and with " wine on the lees, well
refined." It was here that he not only attempt-
ed to moralize, but to philosophize ; stating it
to be his opinion, that if the Lord had not
" sent the tide through the city, to sweeten the
air, a plague" would have been the result ; as
though the tide had followed rather than pre-
ceded the foundation of its walls. But Sam-
uel was a Christian, not a philosopher; his
head was less the receptacle of knowledge than
his heart was of grace. While he laboured as
though the immortal interests of the whole of
the inhabitants of the city rested upon him, he
cast a glance of solicitude toward home, telling
Martha, that it was not " out of sight, out of
mind :" and requesting to be informed how she
was " in body and soul ;" repeatedly forwarding
her not only " parcels," but what he knew she
"liked"- -a "cheap letter." His letters indi-

248 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

catc also deep anxiety for the prosperity of the
work of God at Mickle field ; and, among others,
an ardent desire for the salvation of a " Mr.
Coulson." Nor did he forget his "old servant
Jackey," whom he wished to be attended to,
and preserved in his blindness from falling into
the "bogs."* His desire to be useful led him
to request Martha to enlarge his " furlough ;"
intimating at the same time his readiness to re-
turn on the first notice of his being " wanted at
home."

The only personal indisposition of which he
had to complain was a slight attack of cholera
morbus, which he believed he had caught from
one of the young men resident in the house,
and which he therefore characterized as " smit-
tle."j One of the most relieving considerations

* His partiality to this animal arose chiefly from the cir-
cumstance of its having carried the Rev. David Stoner
around the York circuit, to whom he was warmly attached,
both as an eminent servant of God, and as having been bom
near his own home. And yet, for this very attachment,
Samuel might have stood rebuked by his own words. Being
at Aberford fair once, and walking with his friend Mr. Daw-
son among the crowd, he was met by an acquaintance.
"You look cast down," said Samuel ; "what is the matter
with you?" "I have lost a fine horse," was the reply,
naming its value. " Why, bless you, man, you made a god
of it, and worshipped it : I worshipped a fine ewe once, and
God took her away from me." Such was Samuel's consola-
tion under loss, and such his occasional views of improper
attachments.

t A provincialism, denoting any thing contagious. He
was not a little delighted with what he considered a triumph
over the ignorance of some of the metropolitans, who had
consulted the English Dictionary for the term, he having
told them in the course of his sermon, that " sin was smit-
tU" — exhorting them to koep at the utmost distance from it

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 249

to his mind under it was — and this shows his
anxiety to be useful — that it had not been per-
mitted to "take" him from his "work." The
sudden death of a female — the affliction of his
daughter — and the daily funeral processions
along the streets of the city, produced a quick-
ening influence upon his soul, and furnished
him with seasonable preaching and conversa-
tional topics, grounding on the whole the ne-
cessity of a constant preparation for another
state of being.

His peculiarities in manner and dialect at-
tracted attention ; and among others with whom
he conversed, and who were induced to hear
him preach, were some persons of the Baptist
persuasion. While a few of these contested
the doctrine of " entire sanctification" with him,
others of them admitted its necessity and at-
tainment. One of the latter addressed a letter
to him on the subject, which he intended to
insert in his " Life." Treating on it in a letter
to Martha, he observed, "I have preached ever
since I came to London, a full, free, and present
salvation ; and I will continue to preach it while
I have life and strength. Thousands have
heard me. I have told them, that if the king
were to make a decree, that the man preaching
this doctrine should have his head taken off, I
would at once go to the block, proclaiming as I
went, with a loud voice, that holiness belong-
eth unto the house of the Lord for ever, and
would there die for it like a martyr."

Preaching in one of the chapels, on " Blessed

250 Till' VILLA*! BLACKSMITH.

are the pure in heart, for they shall see God,"
a female who had heard him, professed to have
received the blessing, after having sought it for
the space of seventeen years. A young man
also bore the same testimony, in one of the
lovefeasts. Some of these cases were entered
into his home epistolary correspondence, add-
ing to the narrations, '; You see what a poor
instrument the Lord can work with ! — either by
a ram's horn, or by the crowing of a cock. But
he shall have the glory; he will not give it to
another; he has purchased it with his blood."
These intimations led Martha to look upon his
state with a little jealousy ; and on furnishing
him with a portion of ballast — a labour of love
for which she was well qualified and always
ready — he replied to her, " I am thankful for
your advice ; and I hope God will keep me in
the dust. I assure you, I have often to cry out,
' Lord, enlarge my heart, and fill it.' I some-
times think I shall sink under the weight of
love : and if I should be called away in such a
state, O how sweet it will be to fall asleep in
the arms of Jesus !"

While urging his hearers to seek holiness,
he broke out on one occasion, somewhat in the
following strain : — " If any of you had a sum
of money left to you by a friend, you would put
in your claim and prove the will. Jesus Christ
has made his will ; and his will is your sancti-
fication. You may put in your claim for the
blessing by simple faith. The property belongs
to every believer. Our Lord made a just will.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 251

He left all his children share and share alike ;
the youngest the same blessing as the oldest.
'The weakest believer that hangs upon him'
may have it. It is faith that lays claim to it.
Faith says, ' It is my property.' Faith has two
hands. It takes hold of the blessing with the
one, and continues to hold it fast by the other.
Stretch out the hand of faith then. Take the
property your dear Lord has purchased for you,
and for all believers." This is truth in russet
costume : and yet, homely though it be, it is
not only more dignified in its character, but the
imagery is better selected, as well as more con-
sistently supported, than that which has been
sometimes employed by doctors and digni
taries.*

What gave him peculiar pleasure, in re-
ference to his favourite theme of sanctification,
was, the circumstance of receiving an invitation
to take tea with two of the preachers, at the
house of a lady who had travelled the path of
holiness upward of half a century, and who had
entertained the venerable founder of Method-
ism. With this Christian matron he compared

* In a sermon preached at court, the celebrated Dr.
South remarks, in speaking of the delights of a soul " cla-
rified''' by grace, " No man, at the years and vigour of thirty,
is either fond of sugar-plums or rattles." Another observation
is, " No man would preserve the itch on himself, only for
the pleasure of scratching." — Sermons, Serm. I, Prov. iii, 17.

Archbishop Tillotson, in his thanksgiving Sermon be-
fore the king and queen, October 27th, 1692, on Jer. ix, 23,
24, speaking of his majesty's preservation in the field of
battle, says, " I do not believe, that from the first use of
great guns to that day, any mortal map ever had his shoulde?
«o kindly hissed by a cannon bullet.'"

252 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

notes ; and remarked, " She has enjoyed pure
religion ever since Mr. Wesley's day ; and the
best of all is, she enjoys it now. It is natural
for us to talk about that which we love. Her
experience is just the same as mine. I am
glad when I find any one that enjoys the bless-
ing."

CHAPTER XI.

Continues in London — An epitome of a week's labour —
Mrs. Wrathall's religious enjoyments — Samuel meets with
one converted Jew, and attempts the Christian improve-
ment of another — Preaches out of doors — Visits Michael
Angelo Taylor, Esq. — Farther account of Mrs. Wrathall —
Samuel's usefulness — His love of Yorkshire — Enjoys a ride
into the country — Goes into Kent — Tent-preaching — Is re-
proved for loud praying — His views of death-Spiritualizes
a thunder-storm — An African — Mrs. Wrathall's death —
Samuel visits Windsor — Is rendered a blessing to the people
— Returns to London — Is called into Yorkshire to preach a
funeral sermon.

In following Samuel during his residence in
the metropolis, it will furnish some variety, if
special cognizance be taken of the more inci-
dental part of his history. His life was one of
incident: every motion, like scenic representa-
tion, told on the eye and the ear of the by-
stander, unfolding his habitudes and feelings.
Though no regular journal was kept, the fol-
lowing may be considered as nearly in the
order, with two or three exceptions, in which
the occurrences and conversations took place.

July. — Persons visiting the metropolis, like

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 253

those who cross the line for the first time, are
obliged to conform to certain ceremonies, if not
of dipping, at least in dressing. Samuel's
raiment was generally plain, both in cut and
quality ; and when not employed in the smithy,
extremely clean. His coat was rarely per-
mitted to altar its fashion.* The change in
London, however, was not so much in the
shape, as in the quality — from plain to super-
fine. " My son," said he to Martha, " has
ordered me a suit of new clothes ; and your dear
Ann, whom you love, has bought me a new
hat : I never had such a hat on my head in my
life before." This was as much the result of
kindness as of necessity. Improved in his
appearance, and requested to supply a few
places for the Rev. R. Reece, with whose plan
he was presented as his credential, during his
engagements at the Conference, he traversed
the city, in something more than his ordinary
character, when at home, at Micklefield; and
Martha's lectures on humility were as necessary
occasionally to suppress the stirrings of vanity
— vanity, however, in some of its least offensive
forms, and without much of the consciousness
of its presence — as they were kindly taken.
His daughter, with a child's fondness, wrote
home in one of his lettters, in the early part of

* He was once, in the way of compliment, presented by a
friend with a pair of handsome new trousers. But they
were so ill adapted to his person, habits, and other costume,
that when thus adorned, it looked like the last and present
century united in the same man ; or as though the half of
him belonged to some one besides himself.

254 THi; VILLAGE blacksmith.

this month, — " My dear mother, I will give you
part of father's weekly work. He went to
Southwark chapel on .Monday morning, at rive
o'clock ; from whence a young gentleman took
him home to breakfast, and kept him the whole
of the dav. He went to a fellowship meeting
at night, and did not reach home till ten o'clock.
On Wednesday morning he preached at City-
Road at six o'clock, and did not arrive here till
tea time. After tea he went to preach at
Albion-street ; and to-day he has been at Chelsea
missionary meeting. It is now ten o'clock,
and he has just arrived by coach. I assure you
my dear father is in high glee. He tells us
that he has had a good time ; and that, while he
was speaking, the persons upon the platform
almost stamped it down.* They all shook
hands with him, told him thev were obliged to
him for his services, and paid his coach-fare.
Wherever he goes, the people invite him back
again. You sec how vour husband is be-
loved."

Though Mrs. W. was pleased with the
respect paid to her father — and it would have
been strange if a little natural feeling had not
escaped — she remained the same humble

* Samuel himself was in the habit of stamping, not only
when others were speaking, but when he himself spoke. A
singular scene took place some time prior to this, and nearer
his own home. Addressing an audience at a public meeting,
and being very animated, his ponderous movements shook the
whole platform. Just at the moment of applying a subject,
and saying, " Thus it was that the prophets went," the part
on which he stood gave way, and he instantly disappeared
Fortunately no injury was sustained.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 255

Christian as before ; nor was it with Samuel
any thing else but the mere ebullition of the
moment. Personal piety seemed to include
every thing besides, both in himself and in
others ; and the progress of it was particularly
watched in his daughter. " I believe," said he,
in writing of her to his partner, " the Lord has
sent me to London to learn gratitude from the
heart of your own flesh and blood. I never
saw such a happy creature, or one more thank-
ful, in all my life. She has often been made a
blessing to my soul since I came hither ; and
not only to me, but to others, who come to see
her in her affliction. She enjoys perfect love
— that which casts out all fear — and is fit either
for living or dying. I often think, if you were
to see her in this happy state, it would rejoice
your heart. It is above all riches to see a dear
child of ours so happy. Her dear husband out-
strips all the men I ever saw for affection.
She wants for nothing that the world can
bestow : and your dear Ann waits upon her with
tenderness. They are like a three-fold cord,
twisted together in love. We have nothing but
peace, joy, and love." These endearments,
together with the kindness of friends, and an
extensive field of usefulness, led him further to
observe to Martha, " I find a noble body of
Methodists in this city, and I am very glad I
am one of the members of this noble family. If
I had you with me, we would end our days
here."

As nearly all classes of persons attached

256 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

themselves to him in the line in which he
moved, so he found himself comfortable every-
where ; and hence spoke of having " many
homes"— not being " able to supply all" his
friends with his society. Among others who
clung to him was a Jew ; but whether on ac-
count of his piety or singularity, is unknown.
A Jew, to Samuel, was as great a phenomenon
in society as he also was an extraordinary
specimen of an adherent of the Christian faith.
Of this singular people he knew very little,
except what he had collected from the Bible.
Impressions of distance, both as to time and
place, with him were always connected with
their history ; and through his associating the
holy city and the personal manifestation of
Christ among them in all his reflections he
could scarcely have been more interested, if
the fable of the wandering Jew had been realized
in his presence, or if a Hebrew had stolen out
of the sepulchre of his fathers at Jerusalem,
and, in his travels, had reached England, than
the concern he felt in looking upon the person
in question. " I was planned," said he, " to
preach in City-Road vestry, and I got into
company with a converted Jew. He is a fine
young man, and is as clear in his experience
as I am. I was delighted with his company.
A pious lady has sent him over to London to
be instructed in divine things. His parents
have turned him out of doors for becoming a
Christian ; but the Lord has taken him into his
family. He is going to college, and he asked

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 257

me to go with him." The young man must
either have been extremely ignorant of human
character, or disposed to amuse himself with
the weaker part of Samuel's nature, in making
to him such a proposal. However, Samuel
told him that he had been at " Jesus Christ's
college," where he had " taken up" his " de-
grees." He took breakfast and dinner with this
young convert, and found a difficulty in parting
with him.

The interest this case excited, led him to
think more than usual on the state of the Jews ;
and turning his attention to them, they seemed
to multiply in his sight as he passed along the
streets. This gave rise to his expression, that
the city appeared to be filled " with Jews,
Turks, and Infidels." A genuine son of Abra-
ham kept a jeweller and silversmith's shop
opposite his daughter's house. He often looked
at Samuel while passing his door, with the
characteristic keenness and expectation of a
London Israelitish tradesman, hoping to benefit
by the ignorance of an inexperienced country-
man. But his soul possessed superior attrac-
tion to Samuel than either his shop or his
window ; and he was not without hope that he
might be of service to him. With unusual
caution and deliberation, he paced backward
and forward before the old gentleman's door.
The morning was pleasant, in which he re-
joiced. He had not been there long before
the object of his desire made his appearance
They exchanged looks, when Samuel accosted

17 .

258 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

him, " Bless the Lord ! here is a fine morning."
"It ish, it ish fery fine," replied the Jew; im-
mediately inquiring — as he was old, and could
not go into the city to seek it — " Vat pe te besht
news in te city ?" " The best news that I can
hear," replied Samuel, " is, that Jesus Christ is
pardoning sinners, and sanctifying believers."
" Poh, poh," rejoined the old man, turning up his
face, " tuff and nonshensh ! it ish all telushion."
Samuel was as ill prepared for this, as the Jew
had been for what he had advanced, and ob-
served, with a view to produce instantaneous
conviction — as he concluded the testimony of
his own experience would be every way de-
monstrative to both Jew and Gentile — " If it be
a delusion, it is a blessed delusion ; for I am very
happy in it. No, no, sir : I know better. I
have known for the last forty years that Jesus
Christ has power upon earth to forgive sins,
and also to cleanse from all unrighteousness."
Alas, for Samuel, he ploughed only on the rock :
the old man turned his back upon him in a rage,
as though Samuel had intended to insult him —
entered his shop — and shut the door in his face.
Samuel looked after him with the disappoint-
ment of a fowler, who, having discharged his
piece, and expecting the game to drop at a
short distance, sees it on the wing and un-
touched; yet expressed his gratitude, in "no
being numbered with unbelievers." It is no
a little amusing to find him in the chair oi
Lavater after this, pronouncing his oninion with
the precision of a physiognomist. " I can tell

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 259

a Jew," said he, " as I pass him on the street ;
for his countenance is gloomy and dark ; not
like that of the Christian, which is cheerful and
pleasant : and who has such a right to be cheer-
ful as the man that has Christ formed in him
the hope of glory ?"*

On finding that he could make but little im-
pression upon the Jew, he again turned to the
Gentile. The " morning meetings," at five
and six o'clock, which were well attended, were
among the most salutary he enjoyed. On one
occasion, a foreigner, who had attended out of
curiosity, was deeply affected, and three persons
professed to have received the blessing of
purity. After the meetings he was often taken
away to visit the sick, and pray with the
penitent. One of the persons who came before
him he suspected to be affected with worldly
sorrow ; and this is the more remarkable, as he
had more charity than judgment in all cases of

* This was not his first attempt at physiognomy; nor
was he peculiar in his views on the subject. He had read
Isaiah, who, in speaking of certain characters, says, " The
show of their countenance doth witness against them ;" and
he had a notion that religion would improve the exterior, as
well as the interior, of every human being. These views
escaped in prayer once, while he was imploring the blessing
of God upon a female who acted in the capacity of cook in
a family which he visited. Having heard a little of the
person in question, and having inferred, from the peculiar
curvature and expression of the face, that she was not
blessed with a redundancy of the milder qualities which
grace the softer part of creation, he prayed for the subjuga-
tion of every improper temper ; and as an inducement to her
to seek after personal piety, he said he was sure, " if her
soul were converted to God, she would look five pounds
better than she did then."

260 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

distress : another he was called to visit — a
stationer — was in deep despair. With a view
to attract persons who never attended a place
of worship, he turned out into the street, and
stood up, accompanied by a local preacher, in
a large square. The householders threw open
their windows to listen to him, and the people
continued to crowd around him, till the con-
gregation might be denominated large. A
person, in a state of intoxication, threw a bunch
of flowers at him, and was otherwise turbulent.
Some of the friends were about to remove him
by violence, when Samuel said, " Let him
alone ; he cannot hurt me, and I am sure I shall
not harm him." The man was subdued by the
mildness of the address. " The lion's mouth,''
said Samuel, " was stopped." While preach-
ing he felt, great tenderness of spirit. This was
soon manifested by the people ; for, in the
language of Creech, " The melted is the melt-
ing heart." He exhorted — he beseeched — he
reproved — he wept — the people wept in con-
cert with him — and having forgotten his pocket-
handkerchief, he borrowed one of a friend, to
wipe away the tears which rolled down his face.
The bunch of flowers was hailed by him as a
slight expression of " persecution," in the
honours pronounced on which he " rejoiced."

Samuel was one who could more readily re-
collect a kindness than an injury; and con-
sidering himself indebted to Michael Angelo
Taylor, Esq., for his license, who then resided
in London, and viewing him withal, in his own

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 261

words, as an " old neighbour," he went to
White-Hall to pay his respects to him. The
statesman expressed himself as glad to see him,
inquiring the occasion which had brought him
to town. On being informed that it was the
affliction of his daughter, Mr. T. signified his
regret. Samuel, on the contrary, told him he
felt no sorrow on her account, for she was
" very happy, and ready for her passage to
glory." Mr. T. ordered the butler to give him
some refreshment ; the apparent kindness,
prompting which, was of greater value to
Samuel, than the most costly viands.

Samuel remarked toward the close of the
month, as Mrs. WrathalPs health still declined,
" Our dear child will be safe landed on Canaan's
happy shore in a short time. I never saw such
a patient creature as she is. She has not much
pain, and will have nothing to do but fall asleep.
She began to change last week, and grows
weaker and weaker." Two or three days after,
he observed, " I have just been giving your
dear child her breakfast. If you only saw her
in her affliction— so thankful, so happy, I am
sure it would rejoice your heart. If she is
spared a little longer, it will be for the glory
of God and the good of those that come to see
her She has many friends : I can scarcely go
anywhere but I find them. Your dear Ann is
a miracle. She is not afraid of going out to
hear me preach. I hope both you and me, and
all our children, and even our children's children,
to the third and fourth generation, will meet at

262 THK VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

God's right hand." On the 30th of the month,
he added, " Your dear child is very happy :"
then proceeding to generalize, " we are all
peace : Ann and I have been taking some re-
freshment together, and have just been at the
family altar. I hope you do not forget this
duty; and be sure you do not pinch yourself for
comforts. I often think of you when I sit down
to a good dinner, and wish I had you, my dear,
to share it with me. But if we do not sit down
at one table now, we shall eat at our Father's
table together hereafter. My lot is cast in a
pleasant place. When I want to retire to read
or write, I have a room to go into. I would
not swap (exchange) place with the best noble-
man in this city."

August. — This month presents but little
variety, besides the regular work of preaching,
praying, and visiting, with the exception of a
quickening influence in one of the prayer-
meetings, which was held after he had preached,
in which a person of the Roman Catholic
persuasion was awakened. Having to go a
considerable distance to his lodgings, he de-
parted from the place about ten o'clock at night,
leaving, as he expressed himself, " the frier.xls
pleading for the slain." Before the close of
the month, his Yorkshire phrases, bis zeal, and
the influence attending his homely addresses,
rendered him rather conspicuous among his
fellows. To this he was not altogether blind ;
and remarked in the confidence of a man to his
wife, " I am well known in London : the more

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 263

work I do the more I have to do ; and when it
will all be done I cannot tell. I have great
pleasure in it. The Lord is saving souls."
Then, as before, he urged Martha not to pinch
herself; "for," he added, "I am sure we have
as much as will keep you ; and as for me, my
Master, whom I love and serve, will supply all
my needs out of his abundant fulness. The
earth is his own property." This was not the
language that arises out of satiety from present
indulgence, on finding himself seated at the
table of his son-in-law, but of confidence in God,
who blesses the labourer with his hire, because
worthy of it. He had no anxiety on his own
account ; it only found a place in his bosom for
others ; and toward these it was generally
exercised rather in reference to the present
exigencies of any particular case than with a
view to the future destiny of the individual
concerned. His faith in the goodness, power,
and veracity of God, would never suffer him to
bring the trials of to-morrow on those of to-day ;
or by afflictive forebodings to go out and meet
his exercises half way : and even " the evil" of
" the day," which ought to be deemed " sufficient"
by all intelligent beings, was deprived of great
part of its weight with Samuel, and thus rendered
light and momentary, through the grace by which
he was supported, and the glorious hope of a
blessed immortality. Nothing but personal piety
could have enabled him to overcome parental
feeling so far as to give him the appearance of
being not only all peace, but covered with

264 THE VII, LAG i; HLAt-Ks.MITH.

sunshine at the gate of heaven, and just on the
point of entering, in the midst of a beloved
daughter's affliction. At the close of this month,
as on that of the preceding one, he had only to
report increasing debility with regard to Mrs.
W. " Ann and I have been getting up your
dear afflicted child. She is very happy in soul,
but. very weak in body." He waked and watched
by her with a solicitude like that of a mother
rather than that of a father, and never permitted
his public labours' to intrench upon the atten-
tions demanded by natural affection.

September. — Though happy among the per-
sons with whom he associated, his joys were
considerably increased on any arrival from
Yorkshire, whether it turned up in the shape of
a human face, a letter, or a message. Among
several persons noticed, no one was viewed
with more unmingled pleasure than W. Scarth,
Esq., of Leeds, who invited him to take tea at
his lodgings — the house of the widow of the
late Rev. C. Atmore — " Where," said Samuel,
" we spent a little bit comfortable time together."
Mr. S. told him that his presence and labours
would be required at home : this, with an oral
communication from Ratcliffe Close, to pay
another visit to that place, where he had been
so useful among the Sunday-school children,
operated upon him like the promise ot a week's
work to a poor man, who is overjoyed with the
tidings of a second job before the first is finished.
His only wish for life arose from his desire to
be useful.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 265

Next to a friend from Yorkshire was the de-
light he experienced in again beholding the
face of God's creation, in a view of the country.
His eye had been accustomed to rove over the
beauty, the wildness, and the freshness of open
rural scenery ; and though he knew not the sen-
timent of the writer who said, " God made the
country, but man made the town ;" yet he felt
like a person who saw more of his Maker's
hand in the trees and in the shrubs than in a
range of buildings — like one whose eye had not
only a wider range, but whose lungs had some-
thing like fair play, and with whom respiration
seemed to be aided. Mr. Knight drove him
fifteen miles into the country in a gig. He
felt like a child let loose from the nursery.
Absence had given additional richness to the
verdure. " I was glad," said he, " to see the
fields look so green. The, Lord is sending us a
Michaelmas summer, and a fine seed-time. He
is making up for the loss of last year. Bless
his dear name ! he is very kind to us. After
taking the rod to us, he then shows us his sal-
vation. He never does wrong : he does all in
love ; and it is well done. What we know not
now, we shall know hereafter."

He was favoured with a still farther treat, in
being taken into Kent, by Mr. Cooper, who
married his niece, and with whom he remained
a fortnight. On his return he made a collec-
tion for a Sunday school ; and such was the
concourse of people, that he was obliged to
preach out of doors. The collection amounted

266 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH

to about double the sum to what it had been on
any former occasion.

Mr. Pocock's plan of tent-preaching, which
had reached the metropolis, presented a novel
scene to Samuel ; and in one of these he held
forth the word of life. But in no meeting, of a
purely religious character, did he appear so
much in his element as in those he held after"
preaching, to which there has been such re-
peated reference. In one of these, in the
course of this month, after he had made a col-
lection for a chapel, which had undergone some
repairs, he gave the people an account of a plan
adopted in the York circuit, during a revival.
He told them that the friends " set three
benks"* (benches,) — one for penitents — another
for backsliders — and a third for those that
wanted full salvation ; and that while they sung
a verse or two of a hymn, the people filled the
benks. They then went to prayer, and the
Lord poured out his Spirit upon them. Whether
this systematic plan was adopted by the me-

* This appears to he from the Saxon bene, a long seat ; as
banc, in the same language, signifies a long heap of earth.
It is hence that our bench is derived. Bankan, a ban* ;
maingk, beinse, and benk, a bench ; bank and bench being one
and the same word, signifying a long sitting place, as in
the case of the British judges, who sat for ages upon banks
instead of benches. It is the same with the Irish bale,
which answers to the bale of the Welsh, and denotes a balk
of land, as also does a bench. Banquet is supposed to be a
slip of the same root. Banquegeal is to feast, and banuez,
banket is a feast ; the idea being taken from sitting to a table,
as ci?iio is a feast ; and ciniau, cuynos a table, from sitting
on banks or benches to it, as banquette, in French, is at
present a small bank in fortification.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 267

tropolitans on the occasion is not stated : but
it is affirmed that ten persons were blessed,
— some with pardon, and others with the sancti-
fication of the Spirit. He closed the month by
attending one of the quarterly meetings, and by
preaching at St. George's chapel. His ex-
cellent daughter continued to approach nearer
and nearer the grand boundary line which
divides time and eternity — her fairest prospects
on the one side, and her infirmities only on
the other.

October. — While some of the preachers
and friends were characterized by Samuel as
" flames of fire," there were others who were
less favourable to his mode of proceeding, and
of course required more zeal. But having only
one straight-forward course, admonitory inter-
positions were generally fruitless. A female,
having been convinced of sin while he was
preaching on Rom. viii, 13, was in deep dis-
tress in one of the prayer meetings. He knelt
down to pray for her ; and experiencing unusual
freedom, he elevated his voice to an extraor-
dinary height. " One of the London preachers,'
said he, " came to me, and pulled me by the
coat. I asked him what was the matter: and
he told me not to pray so loud, as another
person was in distress in the chapel, and it
produced confusion. But I took no notice of
the discharge : I prayed on till the Lord set her
soul at liberty, and she declared it in the great
congregation." He added, " It is better to
obey God than man." He had never learned

268 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

to sound a retreat : " Onward" was his motto
in every thing that concerned the soul ; and
this he was constantly urging upon others, as
well as dwelling upon himself. To a friend he
observed, about the same time, " I hope, my
dear brother, you are still going on in the good
old way, which leads to glory and to God. If
we get religion to live with, we shall have
religion to die with." Then, with no bad
attempt at smartness, he asked, " Die, did I say ?
No, that is a wrong term for a Christian. It
is religion to fall asleep with. When David
finished his work, he slept with his fathers.
The prophets also fell asleep ; and St. Paul
asks, ' O death, where is thy sting ? Thanks
be to God, who giveth us the victory, through
our Lord Jesus Christ.' " It was the con-
sciousness of preparation which he carried
about with him, that deprived death of its
terrors, and kept alive the notion of sleep — of a
person just closing his eyes, and going to rest
after the toils of the day.

It was as natural for him to converse on re-
ligious subjects as it was to breathe ; and
almost as impossible for him to see or hear
any thing, without connecting religion with it.
After a tremendous night of thunder, lightning,
wind, and rain, on the 10th of the month, he
remarked, " We have been spared from the
threatening storm by a kind Protector ; but I am
afraid we shall hear of many lives being lost
on the wide ocean. The rain has washed the
tiles and the streets clean. The tiles look as

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 269

if they were new. My prayer is, that God
would send a thunder storm into every sinner's
heart, and the lightning of his Spirit, to enlighten
every sinner's conscience ; and that he would,
by the precious blood of Christ, cleanse the
hearts of all true believers, as he has washed
the tiles and the streets of this city."

He had laboured and prayed much for the
heathen ; and though divided from them by seas
and continents, a circumstance occurred, which
appeared to bring them to his own door, in the
person of a black, who sat as his hearer in one
of the chapels. His hue awakened all Samuel's
sympathies for the negroes of the West India
Islands. So much was his mind absorbed in
the subject, that the whole congregation of
whites appeared to be concentrated in this
swarthy son of Ham. He told them that God
was no respecter of persons — that persons of
all nations working righteousness were accepted
of him — and that colour, size, and age, made
no difference to him, provided they came as
penitents to his footstool. Such were the effects
produced by his pointed and personal appeals,
that the black got up in the midst of the people,
and attested the goodness of God personally to
himself, in the forgiveness of all his sins.
Samuel went home with him — he being in com-
fortable circumstances — and took supper with
him ; and was pleased to find that " he had as
clear a witness of the Spirit as a white man."
The last expression would seem to indicate as
»hough he had been infected with the slave-

270 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

holder's cant, that negroes are an inferior race
of beings, and incapable of improvement ; and
for the weakest and most innocent minds to re-
ceive a taint from the opinion, in its progress
through European society, only shows the ne-
cessity of mooting it, by opposing to it the stub
bornness of fact, in instances of religious and
intellectual improvement.

Mr. Wrathall received a letter from Grassing-
ton about this time, requesting his presence, on
account of the indisposition of his uncle, to
whom he was left executor, and who was in
fact at the point of death. Mrs. Wrathall's
increasing debility rendered the prospect of
absence the more painful. However, the cer-
tainty of her father's society was an agreeable
compensation for the temporary loss proposed.
In writing home on the 11th, he remarked,
" Your dear daughter Rosamond is much better
this morning than she has been for some days
past. We thought a few days ago she was
about to enter her eternal rest. But the Lord
does all things well. She has been made a
blessing to many. She expressed her thank-
fulness for her food this morning, and gave out
that verse, ' We thank thee, Lord, for this our
food.' I believe I shall have cause to bless
God to all eternity for her." Her bodily im-
provement, alas ! was but of short duration ; for
she died on the 17th of the month, a blessed
witness of the power of God to save to the
uttermost.

Samuel continued in London after the de

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 271

cease of his daughter, till January, 1828, in the
early part of which month he paid a visit to
Windsor, partly out of respect to it as the
seat of royalty, and partly in compliance with
an invitation from some friends ; and was
escorted thither by a person from town. A
pious soldier of the name of Wm. Emmott, a
corporal in the Royal Horse Guards, was the
only person with whom he had any acquaintance.
He preached on the evening of his arrival, and
held a prayer meeting afterward. So much
were the people pleased and profited, that they
requested him to remain with them a few days.
Mr. Pollard, the superintendent, wrote to Miss
Hick, his daughter, who was at Mr. Wrathall's,
January 7th, stating his intention. Part of the
note is, " Your father is going to stay with us
at Windsor over the next sabbath. He is verv
happy and useful." Samuel added on the same
page, " My dear child, this morning I am in
my glory. The Lord poured out his Spirit at
the prayer meeting last night. Four souls ob-
tained liberty ; and many were blessed. If
spared till to-morrow, I am bourn to see Dr.
Clarke. He has sent me word, that he will
give me a week's board. There is a great
work to do in this place ; and you know I love
the Lord with all my heart. I have been at the
king's stables, where my brother-in-law con-
versed with his majesty. Our brother Jeb is
with me, who will return to-day. God bless
you all. You must take me in when I come."
He was shown over the grounds and castle

272 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

of Windsor. The road leading up to the
palace, the flight of steps, the rooms, the paint-
ings, and the extensive prospect from the sum-
mit— presenting, he observed, " a view of
twelve counties5' — were what appeared to have
fixed attention, and left his mind, like a " cham-
ber of imagery," imbued with their various
forms. And yet, much as he was impressed
with these, they did not excite the emotions of
which he was the subject, when he could con-
nect any thing celestial or devotional with
what passed in review. Thus the representa-
tion of the late lamented Princess Charlotte,
with her infant, ascending to heaven, fired his
fancy, and melted his heart. " It was," in his
own language, " as naturable (natural) as life."
But fascinated as he was with this, a stronger
feeling was produced — only not so permanent
— by the sight of the old cushion — to which
allusion has been already made — upon which
his Majesty George III. knelt during his morn-
ing devotions. " The cushion,'' said Samuel,
" was worn through with constant kneeling.
I knelt me down upon it, and prayed that
the time might come when all his majesty's
subjects would wear out their cushions with
praying." This " divine breathing," though
oddly expressed, was sincere ; and few, per-
haps, have been the persons that have ap-
proached his prayerful example on visiting the
royal domain.

The following selections from a letter written
just before he left Windsor will show the spirit

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 273

in which he continued : "Thursday was spent
to the glory of God. I preached at Chertsey,
about two miles from Windsor, at night, and
held a prayer meeting. Many were blessed.
Friday was spent in singing and in prayer.
We had a prayer meeting at night. Bless the
Lord ! after a good night's rest, I arose happy
in my soul. I had a good preparation for the
second sabbath of the new year. Praise the
Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
I preached on the Sunday forenoon, and held a
love feast in the afternoon. It was a precious
time to my soul : and the friends told me they
never had such a lovefeast before. After
preaching at night, we had a great outpouring
of the Spirit of God. This is truly a wicked
place. There are many soldiers in it. Method-
ism is very low ; but I hope the time will come
when it shall blossom like the rose. Most of
the people in the town appear to be going the
church-way, blindfold, to hell. The king has
his residence at this place; and the people,
like the Romans, must worship like their king.
But I pray'that the churches may be supplied
with gospel-preachers ; and then they will be
filled with gospel-hearers. May the Lord hasten
that happy day !"

On his return to London, where it is probable
his stay would have been still protracted, he
found a summons from Yorkshire, requesting
his presence, to discharge a debt of friendship.
Mrs. Pullein, of Follifoot, had exacted a pro-
mise from him,. that in the event of his- surviving

18

274 THE V ILL ASK BLACKSMITH.

her, he should preach her funeral sermon. On
her demise, the family wrote to Samuel. His
friends told him it was not necessary he should
go then, — that he should go on purpose, — or
even take a journey at all of such a distance,
at his age, and during such a season, to preach
a single sermon, particularly as there were
preachers in Yorkshire who could supply his
lack of service. But though they knew the
nature of a promise, they felt nothing of its
responsibility pressing upon their consciences,
and could therefore satisfy themselves with
what they were not personally called upon to
discharge. Samuel felt it in all its weight, and
connected with it all the solemnities of the
occasion, and said, " When I meet Mrs. Pullein
in the morning of the resurrection, and she
asks, ' Sammy, did not you promise to preach
my funeral sermon V what shall I say ? I have
promised, and must go." He obeyed the call.
He took for his text Numbers xxiii, 10, "Let
me die the death of the righteous;" on reading
which he closed the Bible, and said to the
people, " Now, if you will live the life, you shall
die the death of the righteous ; and much more
than this I cannot tell you, if I were to preach
to you ever so long." Though he had travelled
upward of two hundred miles to preach this
occasional sermon, he only spoke about ten
minutes.

His warm and kindly feelings, and the utter
intractability of his nature to bend to the be-
coming gravities, whether real or assumed, of

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 275

funeral occasions, would sometimes disturb the
serious aspect of a whole company. As he
knew no feelings, except those which he or-
dinarily carried about with him, so he had but
one face, one attitude, one mode of expressing
himself, whatever might be the event or the
circumstances in which persons might be placed.
His sincerity, and his ignorance of all etiquette,
would admit of nothing else. Thus, several
years prior to this, he was invited to attend
the funeral of Mrs. W., of Garforth, on the
occasion of whose death a sermon was preached,
and afterward published, by the Rev. J. Wood.
A cold collation was provided for the friends on
the day of interment, which, as the company
was large, was served up in a malt-kiln, where
one party succeeded another, returning, when
refreshed, to a large room. Samuel, with others,
had made preparations for a funeral sermon.
His text, he told the friends, was given to him
in sleep ; on which occasion he had roused
Martha, as he had done in reference to the
dream which sealed his call to the ministry, and
to which she paid equal attention, when the in-
formation was communicated. The text was,
" I was a hungered, and ye gave me meat."
But honest Samuel, not being favoured with a
concordance, was unable to advert to the book,
the chapter, and the verse, where it was to be
found, and therefore had to institute an inquiry
among his friends for his farther satisfaction.
He had a heart to receive the impression which
truth made upon it, and memory sufficient \q

276 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

retain the sentiment, and often the form of ex-
pression ; but, like many others, of much more
reading, the common-place book, of his recollec-
tion could not in every instance carry the pen-
man's title and his page. The mind being set
at rest, as it regarded the text, and the excel-
lences of the deceased being the subject of
conversation, Samuel wept, and in the midst of
his tears, sent forth a smile of joy at the thought
of another soul having weathered the storm of
life, and obtained firm footing on the opposite
shore, where the heaving surges are smoothed
down to a " sea of glass." He intimated his
intention to preach a sermon on the occasion of
her death, in one of the chapels ; and stated
further, with his usual artlessness — not aware
that the disclosure would subject him to a little
concealed pleasantry — that he had penned his
thoughts on the subject, placing his hand to his
pocket, with a still farther intimation that he
had the MS. with him. Some of the friends,
who were less the subjects of sorrow than the
immediate relations of the deceased, perceiving
that he only required an invitation to bring the
production to light, and knowing the singular
character which his thoughts assumed in the
dress in which they were generally arrayed,
requested him to read what he had penned to
the company, — hoping withal, that some gems
might turn up that would interest the hearers.
Samuel took hold of his pocket with one hand,
and the MS. with the other, and drew it forth,
a good deal sullied and cramped, as though it

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 277

had been forged in the smithy, and lain in his
pocket with other things since it had been
written. He sprung from his chair — proceeded
across the room — placed his glasses in order
— turned his shoulder to the window, and the
MS. to the light — looked and looked again —
occasionally contracting his eyes, and adding
to the adjustment of his spectacles. Not suc-
ceeding to his wishes, he turned the other
shoulder to the window — permitting as much of
the light to fall upon the paper as possible, —
hemming, and stammering, and shuffling — till
at length, in a fit of impatience and disappoint-
ment, and without being able to work his way
through a single sentence, he threw it down
on the table before the Rev. J. Wood, saying,
" There, Mr. Wood, — I cannot read it — take it,
and try what you can do with it," smacking his
glasses into their case, like a sword into its
scabbard, and stalking across the room again to
his seat. When it is remarked^ that this was
too much for the gravity of Mr. Wood, the
reader is left to conjecture the effect produced
upon others. Yet, with all this, Samuel was
left the subject of weeping, smiling, unsuspect-
ing simplicity.

278 THK VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

CHAPTER XII.

Takes a tour through different parts of Yorkshire — Low
state of the work of God at Warter — Gives the preference
to vocal music in a place of worship — Goes into the Snaith
circuit — Goole — Meets with old friends — Is affected with
early recollections, on visiting the scene of Martha's juvenile
days — Prayer meetings — Returns to Yorkshire — Labours in
the Easingwold circuit — Is again cheered with the sight of
old associates — His increasing popularity — Meets with a
serious accident by a fall from his horse — His conduct when
under medical attendance — Is visited by Mr. Dawson — His
partial restoration to health — Visits the West Riding— Pro-
ceeds into Lancashire — Is attacked by an infidel while
preaching out of doors at Bolton — Is summoned by letter to
Grassington — Becomes seriously indisposed — Witnesses the
happy death of his niece — Returns home — Declines rapidly
in health — Attends to some funeral arrangements — His state
of mind — His triumphant death — The general sympathy ex-
cited on the occssion — Conclusion.

On his return home, he continued with the
same diligence, which had previously dis-
tinguished his conduct, to benefit his fellow-
creatures. Trie great religious institutions of
the nineteenth century were styled by him " the
seeds of the millennium ;" and every act of his
own was viewed as an effort to force the shoots ;
— a tree this, which will throw its mighty
shadow over every nation under heaven.

The year (1828) was begun in the spirit in
which its predecessor had closed — a spirit
purely devotional. Having been at home a short
time, he again left it, and went into the Pock-
iington circuit, tarrying a night on tire road, at
the house of his old friend, Mr. Peart. One of
the travelling prenchers beini- indisposed, he

THE VILLAGE BIACKSMITU. 279

was requested to supply a few places. At
Warter, in the neighbourhood of the Wolds,
which was the place where he opened his com-
mission, he found but little of that fermented
feeling which he had seen manifested in the
neighbourhood of York. He found preaching
here, he remarked, " as hard work as labouring
at the anvil." The word seemed to rebound
upon himself, and so to " return void." " There
was as great a difference in the climate, for re-
ligion," continued he, between the district he
had left, and that upon which he had entered,
" as between summer and winter." But he
" claimed," as he stated, his " privilege of hav-
ing a prayer meeting after preaching," and re-
quested those who were desirous of pardon,
" to come up to the benk." The wife of a
blacksmith was one who acceded to the pro-
posal; and, having been some time under re-
ligious awakenings, was prepared for the con-
solations of the Spirit of God, which she ob-
tained through the exercise of faith in Christ
M Pocklington, Elvington, and Sutton-upon-
Derwent, he was exceedingly happy in his
work.

From hence he proceeded to Selby, and at-
tended the March quarterly meeting. Hero
he was hospitably entertained by Mr. B.
Clarkson. His congregations were large, and
the blessing of God attended his labours. He
was especially delighted with the singing. " I
never heard such singing before," he remarked :
" they have no instruments — no fiddles — no

280 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

organs. They sing with the spirit, and with
the understanding also. I thought when I
heard them, if our friends at Leeds would only
use their voices to praise the Lord, it would
not only be more pleasing to him, but they
would be more blessed in their souls ; for sing-
ing is worshipping God" This is the common-
sense view of the subject ; and the last sentence
falls with the weight of a destructive hammer
upon every instrument of music in a place of
Christian worship. He spoke of peace and
prosperity in the Selby circuit, and hoped that
the time would soon come, when, in other
places, " party zeal would be driven to its own
hell."

The port of Goole, a place in the Snaith
circuit, had, in the space of six years, increased
in its population from two hundred to nearly
one thousand inhabitants. A Wesleyan society
had been established for a number of years, and
the place in which they worshipped latterly
was a temporary erection, raised at the expense
of the Aire and Calder Canal Company, and in
which a number of Sunday scholars were taught.
The place being small and uncomfortable, the
friends agreed to build a chapel, toward which
Mr. Hamer, who was the first to enter his name,
subscribed j£50. On the same day, and in the
course of a few hours, upward of j£100 wa:s
promised. One of the Snaith friends, having
heard of Samuel's success in different instances,
requested that he should be invited to aid them.
He was accordingly written to, but the letter

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 281

not reaching him immediately, if at all, he did
not proceed thither till one of the circuit preach-
ers had personally expressed to him their wish.
He proceeded, therefore, from Selby to Snaith,
and its adjacencies. In the earlier stage of the
visit, April 13th, he observes, "I am now at
Goole. I have to preach every night ; and on
the sabbath day I shall have to preach three
times. You see, the Lord finds me work, and,
as I love it, I have plenty of it. He gives me
favour in the sight of the people. The places
for preaching are too small for them: they
flock like doves to their windows.75 He was
here visited by a female, an old acquaintance,
who once, with her husband, walked in the
light of God's countenance, but had also, with
him, retraced her steps to the world. Through
his preaching and conversation they were
again roused from the torpor of spirit which
had seized them ; and to render their return to
the church of God more secure, he entered the
name of the female into his memorandum-book,
in order that he might be able to give the su-
perintendent of the circuit proper directions, to
find out such stray sheep. The woman, said
he, "sprang from a good stock. Her grand-
mother, Ruth Naylor, was a good mother, a
good wife, and a good Christian. My creed is,
that God will save to the third and fourth gen-
eration. This has been the case in my famiy,
and in many a family : yes, and he will bless
to a thousand generations."

While going from place to place, several

282 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

other friendships were revived. At Swinefleet
he entered among the friends of Mr. Knight ;
at another place he met with a ship-captain, a
religious character, in whose vessel he had
preached a sermon during his last visit to Lon-
don ; and at a third place, out of the Snaith
circuit, he had several interviews with his
friend Mr. Thompson, of Armin. Amid many
pleasing remembrances, however, there was
one connected with the early history of Martha,
which was the occasion of much painful feel-
ing. " Yesterday,'' he observes on writing
home to her, "I preached at Garthorp, in Mars-
land, near the place where you lived when you
were with J. H. The house you lived in is
now pulled down, and a new one built. The
chapel which I preached in is built over against
it. The congregation was large ; and I took
tea with the blacksmith. He knew you well;
but he is now going off: he has been in a dy-
ing state for the last twelve years. I assure
vou, I thought of your journey out of Lincoln-
shire ; I could scarcely ever get you out of my
head; — to think of your usage with that ungod-
ly man ! But he has gone to his reward. I
thought of your journey, when you could not
keep your shoes on your feet ; but the roads
are stoned and very good now. I wish you
were here, to see your old friends. I have
heard you say, that the blacksmith's wife was
very good to you, when you were ill. I saw
the flag that parts the counties. But I will tell
you more, if I run spared to get home." In ad-

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 283

dition to this, he had been informed of some
misunderstanding among some of the friends at
Micklefield, which had warped their better
feelings toward each other. On this, he re-
marks, " I hope you have got peace proclaimed,
and all jarring buried. I will say the funeral
service over it, — ' Earth to earth, dust to dust,
ashes to ashes.' The sooner it is buried the
better. Love cannot dwell where there is pre-
judice and party spirit. Give my love to all
my neighbours and friends : tell them I am
happy, and in a good state of health."

Armin, which was one of Samuel's favourite
places, in consequence of Mr. Thompson
granting him perfect liberty to follow the bias
of his own mind, often became the scene of
strong religious excitement, and through that
excitement, of permanent benefit to those who
were its subjects. Separate from domestic
worship, morning and evening, Samuel had his
prayer meetings with the servants and neigh-
bours. It was agreed one night, in the course
of one of his visits, between the servants and
himself, that they should have a prayer meeting
early the next morning. Samuel was up, as
usual, by four o'clock. On descending from his
chamber to the kitchen, he found the windows
closed, and no appearance of wakefulness
among the inmates of the house. He returned
to his chamber, and having prayed and sung
alone — his morning hymn having in all proba-
bility reached the ears of the sleepers — he was
soon joined by the group. But as they had

284 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

not given him the meeting at the hour and place
appointed, he insisted on their stopping with
him in his room. This was not very well
relished by some of the servants, who knew
that Mrs. C, on a visit from London, slept in
an adjoining chamber. But it was of no im-
portance to Samuel, who very likely thought
that the good lady would be as profitably en-
gaged with them, as lying in bed, at an houi
when the birds were beginning to wake into
song, and heaven was alive to their melody.
Samuel commenced the devotional exercise in
good earnest ; they prayed — they sung — they
met in band ; and Mrs. C. — for sleep was in
vain where there was only a partition between
the rooms — was compelled to keep watch with
the party, and, to render the noise at all sup-
portable, had to join in the devotions of the
morning as she lay on her couch.

The evening was generally occupied in
the same way. On one occasion, when Mr.
Thompson and Mr. P., one of the preachers,
went to Howden, to evening preaching, Samuel
was left behind: On their return, they heard
an unusual noise in the house ; and on opening
the door, they found the servants and neighbours
encircling him like a living wall of lire — every
one breathing forth the spirit of devotion —
Samuel's own lips touched with live coals from
.he altar — in all the glory of a revival. Mr. P.
was for dismissing them, but Mr. Thompson,
who knew both Samuel's weaknesses and his
excellences, interposed his authority, and re-

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 285

quested him not to interfere, without at tke same
time appearing to give the meeting his own de-
cided sanction. One man was so powerfully
affected, that several persons were obliged to*
hold him ; and an old man, eighty years of age,,
was confirmed in his religious experience and!
principles, which Samuel — not having had a
previous knowledge of him — mistook for con-
version. The missionary meeting succeeded!
this ; and -Samuel, being called upon to- move or
second a resolution, took occasion to give a de-
tailed account of the principal circumstances of
the meeting the night before. Haviag, how-
ever, omitted the case of the old man,, and be-
ing reminded of it by Mr. Thompson, he sud-
denly turned around upon him, and in a loud and
sharp tone, with a good deal of fire in his eye,,
which showed that a portion of his own spirit
was infused into it, and as though he thought
it " well to be angry " for the Lord,, replied ,.
" Heh ! and you were none so well pleased with
it either" — exciting the smile of the auditory.
He supported what he deemed opposition, or
indifference, in a revival, with but an ill grace-
occasionally. Mr. P., who could not endure-
the noise in the prayer meeting, was obliged to
take up his cross in another way. He had
Samuel for his bed-fellow one night ; and long
before " tired nature" had recruited herself with
" balmy sleep," he had to struggle between
slumber and song, at an early hour in the morn-
ing, till his mate, whose instrument was always

286 THE VffcLAGI BLACKSMITH.

in tune, had carolled a hymn composed of about
ten verses, as lie lay by his side.

His eccentricities in a prayer meeting were
not always to be endured with gravity. While
at Mr. Bell's, of Temple Hurst, a man was
praying very devoutly for the conversion of his
wife. Samuel knew that there were other pre-
requisites besides prayer ; and supposing him
to be a little defective in some of the milder
qualities of the mind at home, stopped him, and
turning around, as he elevated himself, said, "Set
a trap for her, man, and take care to bait it with
faith and love" — settling instantly down to his
devotions as before, adding to the person, whose
voice had been interrupted for the moment,
" There, you may go on again."

Any improper feeling, as manifested on the
platform, toward Mr. Thompson, was quickly
swallowed up in the liner flow of divine love,
which pervaded his whole soul, and was let out
on the most insignificant portions of the unin-
telligent creatures of God. Speaking to Mr.
Thompson one day, on the subject of religious
experience, he said, " I had a field of wheat
once ; the crows picked it, and scarcely left a
single grain ; I felt something rise within me,
that said, 'I wish I had you all in a band;"*
then, looking at his friend, he continued, as if
afraid of being suspected of indulging a dispo-
sition for cruelty, incompatible with what he
deemed a high state of grace — " But, mind ye,
I was not sanctified then."

While in this neighbourhood, he solicited

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 287

subscriptions for the proposed chapel at Goole
— preached to every society in the circuit — as-
sisted in holding four missionary meetings —
and was frequently entertained by respectable
families, who were not in membership with the
Wesleyan body. The latter pressed him to
repeat his visits.

Samuel took a particular interest, as will have
been perceived, in the welfare of persons of
his own trade ; and an instance of usefulness
may here be recorded, as given by a black-
smith in a religious assembly, when Samuel
was remote from the sound of his voice. " I
thank God," said he, " for what he has done for
my soul. I lived long in open rebellion against
him — sinning in the face of light and knowledge
— and training up my children for the devil.
My father, who was pious, reproved me, but T
regarded him not. He entered my house once,
while I was playing at cards with my children,
and spoke to me on its impropriety. My pas-
sion rose — I swore — took hold of him, and
turned him to the door. Samuel Hick came
the next day to our place to preach ; and going
around to invite the people, he came and pressed
me to attend. He saw I was throng ; but to
accomplish his purpose, said, ' If you are fast,
I will help you ;' nor would he leave me till I
promised to attend preaching. Accordingly, I
went; and the Lord met me. All my sins
were placed before me, and pressed me heavily.
* I cried aloud for mercy ; Samuel came and
prayed with me; I prayed for myself; and it

288 THE VILLAGE RI.ACKSMITH.

was not long before the Lord blessed me with
Christian liberty. He tilled me with peace and
joy through believing, and has preserved me in
his ways to the present time."

He left Snaith and its neighbourhood about
the end of April ; and after paying one of his
"angel visits" at home, visited the York, Pock-
lington, and Tadcaster circuits : and three of
the places in which he was unusually favoured
with the divine blessing were Hessay, Acomb,
and Moormonkton, at the latter of which he
observed, " They sang like angels." When at
Hessayr in the month of November, having been
from home some time, he found himself, as usual,
nearly drained of cash by his charities, one
of the last of which consisted in contributing
toward the purchase of a pig for a poor woman,
who had lost one by some accident or distem-
per. " She was sorely distressed,'' said he,
" for she had fed and brought it up, and could
not buy another without the help of her friends.
She was a good Christian ; and I gave her the
most of what I had in my pocket." But his
purse was soon replenished. His son-in-law,
Mr. W.r had occasion to be in the country ; and
on finding that he was in the neighbourhood of
York, sought him, and found him in conversa-
tion with a friend in the street. Laying his
hand on> his shoulder, Samuel turned around,
and was surprised to find the face of a relation
peering in his own. As Mr. W. was just pass-
ing through the city by coach to London, he
could only propose a few brief questions, one

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 289

of which was, " How does your pocket stand
affected?" to which Samuel replied, " It is very
low." Mr. W. knew the generosity of his na-
ture ; and dipping deep into his own pocket,
gave him a handful of silver. Samuel consi-
dered this a providential supply, saying, " When
I was nearly done with my money, the Lord
sent my son to York, who gave me more. I
want for neither meat, money, nor clothes ; and
my peace flows like a river." At this period he
often preached once a day in the course of the
week, and two or three times on the sabbath.

He had been employed in the course of this
year, too, in soliciting subscriptions for Rider
chapel, a village near Cawood, forming part of
the Selby circuit. The summer, the autumn,
and the beginning of 1829, were spent in dif-
ferent directions ; and wherever he was follow-
ed, the people bore a lively recollection of his
visits. Traces of him were invariably found
in the conversations of the friends ; his works
and his walk left as distinct an impression upon
the mind, as the print of the human foot to the
eye, after a person has crossed the sand of the
seashore.

Samuel was in York in the latter end of
March, 1829; and the friends in Easingwold
wishing him to pay them a visit, a farmer and
his good wife, both of whom had been brought
to God some years before, through his instru-
mentality, when residing in the York circuit,
were deputed to give him the meeting in the
city, and to convey him to the place. He

19

290 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

arrived at Easingwold on the 4th of April, and
was entertained chiefly at the house of Mr.
William and Miss Mary Dixon. Being well
acquainted with Mrs. Koadhouse, he deposited
with her two pounds, saying that he was afraid
of losing it ; adding, with a smile, " I have
cheated Matty out of this." Mr. II. had been
his banker in the Snaith circuit, but having
dealt the separate portions out to him with par-
simony, from an impression that he gave indis-
criminately, he thus made a change. His libe-
rality, however, was again put under arrest ;
and when he was prevented from giving the
whole away, he went among the more opulent
and begged that he might be made their almo-
ner. One instance of unnecessary, though not
inconsiderate bounty, occurred while here. He
stepped into the house of a barber, and request-
ed to be shaved. Inquiring of the man whether
he had any other means of supporting his fam-
ily, and being answered in the negative, Sam-
uel put a shilling into his hand. This produced
a grateful feeling, and the man, in Samuel's
estimation, was prepared for any thing that
might follow. He talked to him on the subject
of religion, and then proposed prayer. The
different members of the family were speedily
on their knees, and the worshipping group v ere
open for the inspection of the next custt mer
that might turn in for the same operation that
had been performed' upon the officiating p jest.
A thousand persons might be found to part with
rheir money in the same wav. but a thousand

1HE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 291

persons of the same piety might be found, who,
in the same place, and under the same circum-
stances, could not have brought themselves to
act thus, and might be justified in such conduct
without being disposed to enter a sentence of
condemnation against Samuel.

Of the affection and attention of the Rev.
Messrs. Roadhouse and Garbutt, he spoke in
grateful terms ; and besides preaching, attended,
in connection with them, several missionary
meetings. Descanting on a part of his labours,
he remarked in his own peculiar way, " I
preached last night (April 24th, on the other
side of Hambleton Hills ; and the Lord, and
Mr. Roadhouse, and me, held a missionary
meeting ;" denoting that the Divine Being was
as signally present in the influence of his Spirit
on the hearts of the people — and without whose
presence all missionary meetings are vain to
the persons assembled — as though he had been
rendered visible to the eye. " It is a mount-
ainous country," continued he, " but very plea-
sant. The people came from all quarters —
from hill and dale : the chapel was crowded,
and we had a good time. I never saw friends
more kind." Here, too, as at Snaith, in the bo-
som of the mountains, he realized the truth of
the proverb of the wise man, " As iron sharp-
ened iron, so a man sharpeneth the counte-
nance of his friend." Early recollections —
such as extended to the days of childhood —
were revived. One person, in particular, he
noticed ; and his joy was full, because of his

292 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

meeting her on Christian jiround. " I have
found some of my own country friends here ;
one of them, a woman, born at Aberford. Her
maiden name was Barker; she married Mr.
Wilkinson's steward, who is now dead. Her
eldest son and daughter have died very happy ;
and if I live till next week, I shall have to
preach her funeral sermon." He then spoke of
the joy he experienced : further stating his be-
lief that the Lord had " as surely sent" him
" into the circuit, as he sent Jonah to preach to
the Ninevites. He waters my soul with the
dews of heaven."

Hawnley was another of the places which
Samuel visited, where he rendered himself
amusingly popular by waiting upon the clergy-
man of the parish, requesting him to " give
them a speech at the missionary meeting."
The reverend gentleman declining, Samuel
tried him on another point.

Samuel. " Will you please then, sir, to give us
a pound for the missions ?"

Clergyman. " That is too much, and I have
no silver upon me ; but if you will give me sil-
ver for a note, I will give you half a crown."

Sam. " Nay, give the note, sir ; it is a noble

cause."

Samuel's companion, having a little more
delicacy of feeling about him than himself, and
perceiving that the pound was more than it was
prudent to urge, offered, in order to relieve the
clergyman from his importunity, to give him

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 293

twenty shillings in silver. Samuel immediate-
ly, in an altered tone, said,

" Give the gentleman five shillings."

Cler. " That will not do."

Sam. " Ten then, sir."

Cler. " I will give you half a crown."

Sam. " Not less than five shillings, if you
please, sir."

The full change was given, and an apology
was offered for Samuel, for whom it was fortu-
nate an apologist was at hand. Samuel, on the
other hand, dropped upon his knees in the room
to improve the occasion, and prayed devoutly
and fervently for the divine blessing upon the
clergyman. Whether as a rebuke, by way of
intimating that instruction was necessary, or as
a token of respect — which at least was singular
— the reverend gentleman sent one of his writ-
ten sermons in the evening, accompanied with
his regards, to Samuel's companion.

Without placing the least dependance upon
works, he toiled as though heaven were alone
to be won by them. " If I had ten thousand
bodies and souls," said he, " they should all be
spent in the service of God." At Carlton.
Sheriff Hutton, and several other places, the
word of exhortation was made a blessing to the
people. His usefulness and popularity appear-
ed to advance with his age. Persons who had
heard of him were prompted by curiosity to
attend his public addresses ; and those who had
benefited by them followed him from place to
place : so that with the curious, the profited,

294 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

and the stated hearers, the chapels were gene-
rally crowded. In addition to evening preach-
ing, travelling, and visiting the sick, he attend-
ed three missionary meetings in one week —
moving about in the 70th year of his age with
the apparent vigour of youth, and with the fire
of a new convert. At one of those meetings
he met with the Rev. G. Marsden, from Bolton,
who pressed him to take another journey into
Lancashire, which he resolved to perform in
the course of the year, should he be favoured
with health and opportunity. He exulted, too,
in the prospect of meeting with his friend Mr.
Dawson, at a missionary meeting in the month
of May. That month arrived ; but the 14th
was a day to be remembered by Samuel and his
friends. He was on his way from Easingwold
to Hemsley Black Moor, to attend a missionary
meeting. When about three miles from Hems-
ley, his horse took fright at. a chaise, upon
which some white bags were suspended, en-
closing some fighting cocks, wheeled around,
and he fell ofT. " Though no bones,'' says Mr.
Dawson, " were either broken or dislocated, yet
the shock was felt through his whole frame.
He nevertheless attended the meeting ; but soon
found it necessary to leave, when he was taken
to the house of a friend." The scene which
followed would form a subject as suitable for
the pencil of Wilkie as for the pen of a divine.
Bleeding being deemed necessary, a medical
gentleman was sent for ; but in consequence of
absence, his place was supplied by one of his

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 295

pupils. On his appearance, Samuel threw off
his coat, and turned up his shirt sleeve, as if
about to enter on the business of the smithy.
Had the arm been composed of wood, or be-
longed to some other person, he could not have
manifested greater self-possession, promptitude,
and apparent want of feeling. Stretching it
out—his hand meanwhile grasping the handle
of a long brush, and pointing to the vein,
" There, my lad," said he, " strike there ;" hav-
ing the phleme and the quadruped present in
his mind, rather than the lancet and the human
being. . The youth, under the impression of
fear, pricked the vein, but no blood appeared.
"Try again," said Samuel. The experiment
was again fruitlessly made. He instantly
turned up the sleeve of the other arm, as if go-
ing to another job, or as if he intended to give
additional strength to one at which he had just
failed, and determinately pointing to the spot,
said, " Try here, lad ; strike here, and see if
thou canst get any thing." This experiment
with the exception of a few drops, was as inef-
fectual as those that preceded. The youth was
overcome with fear, and withdrew. Fortunate-
ly for Samuel, the surgeon himself came, about
an hour afterward, and bled him copiously,
after which he was placed in a bed. While
bleeding, he said, " Glory be to God! if I die
I'll get the sooner to heaven." In the course
of the same evening, while Mr. Dawson was
preaching, the vein was opened by some acci-
dent, when Mrs. Bentley, who was at chapel,

296 THK VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

and at whose house he lodged, was sent for,
and through her kind attentions, aid was pro-
cured, and the arm again bandaged. Samuel
thought his work was done, and said to the
friends around him, in a tone of holy triumph,
" I am bown home ; — glory be to God! I am
bown home." He expressed a wish to see Mr.
Dawson again, who had called upon him before,
and who no sooner closed the service in the
evening, than he made all possible speed to his
lodging. On entering the room, Samuel accost-
ed him, with a full flow of spirit and of tears,
"I am bown home, barn! Glory be to God, I
am very happy ! I should have bled to death,
barn, but I happened to awaken." He next
proceeded, " I want my will made, and you
must make it." Mr. D., not deeming him so
near his exit as he imagined, and adapting his
language and imagery to Samuel's thinkings and
knowledge of words, answered, " Well, Sammy,
if it is to be so, you are a brown sheJler ;" refer-
ring by that, as Samuel well knew, to the ripe
fruit — brown, and ready to drop from the tree,
and which, when taken into the hand, falls out
of the husk. He was acquainted with Samuel's
character, and beheld him as ripe and ready for
a blessed immortality. " Yes," replied Samuel,
" I am bown to glory." The will was drawn
up according to the best directions he was able
to give ; but as Martha was both cashier and
accountant, he knew very little of his own af-
fairs, and of course found it necessary after-
ward to have it altered.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 297

He met with his accident on the Thursday,
and on the Saturday was so far restored as to
be able to return to Easingwold in a gig. The
friends at Easingwold, knowing that the begin-
ning of the week was the period fixed for his
return to Micklefield, proposed that he should
preach to them on the Sunday — accompanying
the proposal with a hope that it would not seri-
ously injure him, while employing every argu-
ment to accomplish their wishes, at the risk of
his health and life.* He received the proposi-

* This, to say the least, was inconsiderate, being only the
day after he had been shaken a good deal by his removal from
Hemsley ; and were it not for others than the friends at Eas-
ingwold— to whom the following remarks are not intended
to apply beyond the point of inconsideration just noticed —
farther observations would have been withheld. What be-
tween conscience on the part of the preachers, and thoughtless
ness on the part of the people — a willingness to expend the
utmost of their strength in the cause of God in the one,
and anxiety for them to be useful, founded on the value of
immortal souls, in the other, the men very often become mar
tyrs in the work. The people are especially culpable in
urging a willing servant of God to work, in cases of great de
bility; and instances have been known, when, instead of
preventing men from running the most imminent danger of
relapse, or something worse, those very men have been tor-
tured in every possible way by reasons why the pulpit should
be supplied ; — the tormentors themselves sitting like philoso-
phers all the time, as if coolly making experiments upon hu-
man nature, to see the utmost point to which it would go,
then returning with the languishing sufferer, administering
their hopes, like cordials, that — after they have wrung from
him the last mite of physical strength, he will be no worse,
but improved — by thus throwing the fever into his system,
with a night's sound repose. Such conduct, if practised in
civil life, would be viewed in no other light than as the re-
sult of mere brutal feeling. The only difference between an
ungodly man overworking his servants, like a set of West In-
dian slaves, and persons who are criminal in the case in

298 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

tion with his wonted cheerfulness — preached
on the sabbath evening — assisted in conducting
a prayer meeting on the Monday evening — and
proceeded to York in a gig on the Tuesday
morning. Reduced as he was in his bodily
strength, such was the unconquerable nature of
the spirit he possessed, aided by the prospects
of a better world, that he appeared more like a
person who had just risen from slight indispo-
sition, rather than as having walked a few paces
back into life again from the verge of the
grave.

He complained of great internal pain at first ;
and although it pleased the Lord to raise him
again from his couch, and permit him to engage
in his usual labour of love, he was more sus-

hand — and to no other the subject can be applied — is, that the
former are driven, and the latter are dogged to it, through in-
discreet zeal — incorrect notions of duty — sympathy for the
multitude, with a kind of callous feeling toward the indivi-
dual. Persons should be exceedingly careful not even to lay
temptations in the way of zealous, but afflicted men, to take
too early the exercise of the pulpit. A man of <I<>d has that
within him which will not allow him to remain inactive
longer than it is necessary. In such cases, the people should
stand between the couch and the pulpit, and employ the check
rather than the incentive. It is a hard case, when a man is
under the necessity of killing himself to prove that he is
poorly : and the worst is, that there is neither any conscience
made of the matter, on the part of these overu-orkers, nor any
tribunal at which to try them for their conduct. They go
free, though the man of God may lose his life. He is afraid
of their uncandid reflections, if he do not work ; though with-
out reasonable and serious reflection themselves; and to
crown the whole, as it is done under the guise, so it is laid to
the charge, of Christianity. A man may, perchance, survive
it, butno thanks to the task-masters for the pain imparted,
any more than for the life next to miraculously preserved.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 299

ceptible of cold, while his friends perceived an
evident decay both of memory and of corporeal
strength.

Having preached in his own neighbourhood a
short time, he left, home for Lancashire in the
early part of July. His route appears to have
been the following. He remained two days at
Swillington Bridge, in consequence of the rain,
and spoke of the kindness of Mr. Gilgras.
From thence he proceeded to Wakefield, where
he preached, and at which place he had often
experienced the kindness of S. Stocks, Esq.,
and other friends. Barnsley was his next place,
prior to reaching which, he spent two days with
Mr. Myers, who quaintly told him he was not
to think of " making a road over his house."
When he arrived at Barnsley, the friends pre-
vailed upon him to remain until their missionary
meeting. While in that neighbourhood, he
preached at Burton and Cudworth. This was
no new ground of labour to him ; and at the
latter place, particularly, he was rendered ex-
tremely serviceable to Mr. G., who afterward
became a useful local preacher, but was in a
state of mind verging toward despair, when
met by Samuel. They slept in the same room,
and every groan fetched up from the soul of the
one was the signal for prayer to the other ; nor
was it an ejaculation with Samuel, uttered in a
state of repose upon the pillow, which cost him
nothing; for he rose again and again, and
wrestled with God, like Jacob, both in the dark
and at daybreak. He gave himself no rest

300 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

till rest was found by him who sought it. He
had here an excellent coadjutor in the general
work, in William Smith — a man of a very dif-
ferently constructed mind, but in no respect his
inferior for simplicity, zeal, and disinterested-
ness.

He remained some time also at the house of
John Thorneley, Esq., Dodworth Green, near
Barnsley, and was the minister of mercy to a
number of poor families in the village of Dod-
worth. Here, as in other places, in seasons of
distress, his funds, though often replenished by
Mr. T. and others, were as often drained of the
last mite. Cases of distress multiplying upon
him, as is usual with those who take the trouble
to seek after them, and having received supplies
from his own friends, he inquired, as he had
done at Burnley on a former occasion, whether
there were not some opulent characters in the
neighbourhood, who might be willing to contri-
bute of their abundance toward the relief of the
poor. He was told of one gentleman, by his
friend, William Rhodes, but received only such
hopes of success as unbelief could afford.
Faith, in Samuel, could perceive no obstacles ;
he proceeded, therefore, to Mr. C.'s residence,
and found him ; and knowing less of circumlo-
cution than the legal gentleman himself, enter-
ed directly upon the case. Mr. C, either to
get rid of him, or being touched in a way which
was as rare to himself as it was astonishing to
others, took from his pocket a handful of silver,
and gave it — feeling like a person, on Samuel's

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 301

departure, who, in an unguarded moment, had
suffered himself to be imposed upon, and won-
dering at his folly for having been so far over-
seen on the occasion. But the truth is, there
was so much of God, of justice, of humanity,
and of mercy, in all Samuel's applications, that
they carried with them the authority of a com-
mand, and became unaccountably irresistible
to the persons to whom they were made.

While he was at Dodvvorth Green, his re-
spected friend, Edward Brooke, Esq., of Hoy-
land Swaine, sent his servant and gig for him.
On seeing the conveyance, the tear started into
his eye, and turning to Mrs. Thorneley,* he
falteringly observed, " He will kill me." The
zeal of Mr. B. was too much for Samuel's
years ; and such an expression, from such a
man — one who counted not his life dear to him
in the cause of God — must have been wrung
from him in the agonizing reflection of past suf-
fering. Of this, however, Mr. B. was not
aware ; and with his wonted kindness furnished
him with a new suit of clothes. After labour-
ing here a few weeks, he proceeded to Bolton,
where he was on the 10th of August ; and had

* This excellent lady, who knew how to estimate Sam-
uel's piety and labours, has since been called to her eternal
reward. The writer does not proceed beyond his personal
knowledge when he states, that Mrs. T. was modest — retired
— intelligent — liberal to the poor — hospitable, without parade
— a perfect model of domestic order and happiness, without
bustle — a great sufferer, but with the invincible patience and
fortitude of a martyr — crowning the whole with the most
exalted Christian spirit and demeanour.

302 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

it not been for this Lancashire tour, he would
have proceeded into Derbyshire, for which Mr.
Thorneley had made every preparation, in order
that he might be rendered beneficial to the men
employed in working his coal mines.

Not content with preaching in the chapels,
he took his stand in the streets, and proclaimed
the Saviour of sinners to the multitude. Tay-
lor and Carlilc had just been there, and had
engaged the attention of a few of "the baser
sort," who had become venders of their blas-
phemy. One of these attacked Samuel while
he was addressing the people in the street ; and
Samuel, possessing greater confidence in the
truth of God than ability to defend it, impru-
dently committed himself, by telling the man,
that if he would suffer him to proceed without
interruption to the close of the service, he
would go into any private house with him, or
with any number of the same persuasion, if
there were a hundred of them, and he would
take them one by one and conquer them. But
the man was desirous of public conquest ; and
in the lowest slang of the two infidel missiona-
ries, so famous for stooping and raking up from
the very depths of the common sewers of infi-
delity all the filth of which a depraved heart is
capable of conceiving, told Samuel that the
Saviour he preached was a thief — that he could
prove from the Bible itself he stole an ass from
one person, and corn out of the field of an-
other. Samuel immediately rebutted the charge,
by insisting, that, as the Creator of all things.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 303

the earth, the corn, and the cattle upon a thou-
sand hills, were his ; that he only laid claim to
his own property. This was as good a reply
as the low, ignorant attack merited. The man
was prevented from making farther disturbance,
and Samuel was dissuaded from giving him the
meeting. It was a heavy affliction, however, to
his mind. He returned repeatedly to the sub-
ject, and felt all his sensibilities in operation
for the honour of his Saviour. " I have heard
of my dear Lord," said he to some of the
friends, in his conversation afterward, "being-
called a wine-bibber, a gluttonous man, and a
friend to publicans and sinners ; but I never
heard him called a thief and a robber before,
though crucified between two." Then he would
sob and weep over the charge, as though he
wished to sympathize with his Divine Master,
while lying, as he supposed, under this odium.*

* Messrs. Taylor and Carlile were itineratkg the kingdom
at this time, and in the true spirit of infidel philanthropy,
after having charged the ministers of Christianity with mak-
ing a gain of godliness, issued their tickets and their circu-
lars to try what they themselves could accumulate in the way
of bitsiness. The originals, which are in the writer's pos-
session, are curiosities. The ticket specifies, that, " The
Rev. Robert Taylor, B. A., will deliver an Oration this
evening, July 6th, at half past seven, at the Manor Court
Room, Brown-st., Manchester. Admission to the Boxes, 3s.
— to the Area of the Room., 2s." So much for the modest
market-price of infidel commodities to moneyed characters :
and as there were no free seats, their system of benevolence
does not, of course, reach the case of the poor. If Chris
tian ministers were to admit their auditors into their places
of public instruction at 2s. and 3s. per head, some of them
would make an excellent concern of their " orations.1"

Prior to the tickets being offered for sale, the different

304 THL VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

While at Bolton, he received a letter from
Grassington, near Skipton, stating that a niece
of his was very ill — not likely to recover — and
wished to see him. He no sooner was inform-

ministers of religion were furnished with the circular refer-
red to, of which the following is a copy : —

" The Rev. Robert Taylor, A. B., of Carey-street, Lin-
coln's Inn, and Mr. Richard Carlile,of Fleet-street, London,

present their compliments, as infidel missionaries, to ,

and most respectfully and earnestly invite discussion on the
merits of the Christian religion, which they argumentatively
challenge, in confidence of their competency to prove that
such a person as Jesus Christ, alleged to have been of Naz-
areth, never existed ; and that the Christian religion had no
such origin as has been pretended ; neither is it in any way
beneficial to mankind: but that it is nothing more than an
emanation from the ancient pagan religion. The researches
of the Rev. Robert Taylor on this subject are imbodied in
his newly published work, 'The Diegesis,' in which may be
found the routine of their argument. They also impugn the
honesty of a continued preaching, while discussion is chal-
lenged on the whole merits of the Christian religion."

It is difficult to command sufficient muscle for gravity, in
the perusal of such a document.

First: Robert Taylor comes forward as the avowed ene-
my of Christianity ; and yet, without even a vestige of that
Christianity, continues to cling with the tenacity of life to
its ho7iours, by still retaining the title of Reverend, which is
one of the distinguishing honours of its ministers, and
which he himself would never have thought of assuming,
had it not been for his original connection with the church
that conferred it, as is evident from its being withheld from
his compeer, Richard Carlile, who is honoured with the less
dignified title of Master ; — thus contemning that by which
he is still anxious to be exalted ; — furnishing another exem-
plification of the fable of the proud jackdaw, which, not be-
ing satisfied with the plumage with which ?iature had favour-
ed it, decorated itself with a few peacock's feathers ; — slip-
ping off with a pair of stilts — as confident of his own little-
ness, and mounting them on every convenient occasion.

Secondly: His title of A. B., still connected with his once
Christian profession, is one to which no one will dispute his
right — showing his progress in lean.ing — having reached tht

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 305

ed of this, than he took the coach for Skipton.
The day was exceedingly wet ; and he being
on the outside, his clothes were drenched with
rain. He arrived a few days before his niece

first two letters of the English alphabet ; — halting without
being able to arrive at D. This may be deemed she^r pueril-
ity. It is ; nor is any thing else intended : but then the wri-
ter is led to it from a perusal of the "circular," which
speaks of the astonishing " researches1' of the Reverend gen-
tleman. And to what do they amount? To the amazing
vastness of — nothing. For,

Thirdly : He undertakes " to prove" and that too " argu-
mentatively" that "such a person as Jesus Christ never ex-
isted ;" — that is, in plain language, to proves. negative. This
is beating the air with a vengeance ; and to say the least, he
will certainly have something to do, in prosecuting the task
of proving NOTHING.

To take the gentleman, however, on his own ground of
nothingness, we ask — and ask seriously — if Christianity has
not been " any way beneficial to mankind," in what solitary
instance has infidelity been of service to the human species?
Robert Taylor may be told of one " way" — and one will be as
good as a thousand for the writer's purpose — in which Chris-
tianity, in its effects upon the human heart, has benefited
man by man ; and in that " way" infidelity has something not
only to do, but to learn; — it is in the way of mercy. This
is one grand objection which every feeling heart must have
to infidelity — not in its professions, for in these it is opulent,
but in its cold-blooded realities. As infidel missionaries can
prove negatives, they cannot with any grace object to their
assertion : and there is one thing which may be averred — that
infidelity never gave birth to a single benevolent institution since
God made the world, or man fell from his steadfastness. No :
they are Christians alone who plume the wings of genuine
charity. Among infidels, with all their boasted benevo
lence, the sacred form of charity appears sickly and inactive
— the pulse at her heart beats languidly— no expression
flashes from her eye — and her pale lip attests that no seraph
has ever touched it with a live coal from off the altar.
When, in pursuance of Mr. Rose's Bill, authentic informa-
tion was for the first time in any country laid before the pub
lie, of the number of paupers, and of the amount of the
poor rates, it appeared that upward of 700,000 persons wen

20

300 I'm: village blacksmith.

died, but received his own death-stroke by the
journey ; for he caught cold, which settled upon
his lungs, and from which he never fully reco-
vered. In a letter to his partner, dated Sep-
tember 10th, he remarked, "I have been very
ill since I came here. I was taken with a stop-
page in my breathing about midnight. If I had
not got bled, I believe I should not have been
writing to you just now ; but as soon as the
doctor bled me, I found instant relief. I was
very happy, and found that God was the God
of my salvation." In speaking of his niece,

enrolled in Benefit Societies. The advantage of even these
societies might be fairly inferred from their antiquity. They
are known to have existed in some of the ancient Greek re-
publics; traces of them are found among our Anglo-Saxon
ancestors ; and what is still more remarkable, institutions
have been discovered of a similar .purport in some of the
South Sea Islands, among a people still barbarous enough to
delight in devouring the flesh of their enemies. But are
these institutions shoots from the stock of infidelity ? Or it
they were, do they deserve the epithet benevolent at
tached to them? By no means; for no one receives help
from these but the person, who, by his subscriptions, first
helps thc7?i. It has been, therefore, and may still be affirmed
— That Christianity alone is a system of humanity,
which leads to acts of kindness and benevolence. This is one
" way" in which it has been useful to the indigent part of
mankind ; and in this " way" infidelity has been worse than
a blank in God's creation.

N. B. It would seem that Messrs. Taylor and Carlile had
set too high a value on the article of infidelity at first, and
like other wares, there has been a great reduction in the
price. The latter gentleman was lecturing in Manchester,
in the autumn of 1833, when the prices of admission stood
at sixpence and threepence, the highest sum being paid for a
seat near the person of the lecturer. This is a sad reduction
in the space of about two years ; and augurs fair not only
for free, but vacant seats, if not the necessity of having to
hire peisona to hear them

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 307

he said, " We are waiting for a convoy of an-
gels, and are expecting them every day, to car-
ry her soul to the regions of eternal glory,
where there is day without night, pleasure
without pain, and where eternity shall seem as
a day. She has obtained a title and a prepara-
tion for her heavenly inheritance. She has oil
in her vessel, and has on the wedding garment.
The Lord has taken a vast deal of pains with
her, but he has proved the conqueror. She can
give up all ; and when this is the case, we re-
ceive all. It takes a great deal of grace to say,
' Thy will be done.' My son-in-law, Wrathall,
wishes me to stop with her till she finishes her
course. Mr. Knight's family being ill, he is
obliged to return to London."

It was during one of his Lancashire journeys
that he was on the outside of one of the stage
coaches, as on the occasion of his going to
Grassington, in one of the heaviest falls of rain
to which he had ever been exposed : " And ah,
barn" said he to a friend, as though a Lanca-
shire shower had something peculiar in it —
" ah, barn, when* it rains there, it does rain !
the hills look white with it, as it dashes down
the sides." His heart, as on other occasions,
was in the right place. A young woman sat
next him, who was much annoyed, being but
ill prepared to resist the downward force of the
torrent. He looked at her ; and while pitying
her, he felt happy in his soul, audibly blessing
the Lord for all his mercies. Whenever his
female companion complained, he as quickly

308 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

hitched in a pious sentiment, exclaiming on ono
occasion, " Bless the Lord ! it is not a shower
of fire and brimstone from heaven," This sen-
tence took effect ; it was like a nail fastened in
a sure place ; she became thoughtful ; and he
had the happiness to learn, that, in consequence
of his behaviour and conversation, she became
a steady convert to Christianity.

He preached twice during the sabbath, while
here, at Grassington and Hebden. Having
written to his daughter Ann in London, and
home to Martha, but receiving no answer, he
was rather anxious. " Whether," said he to
the latter, " you do not think it worth your while
to write, or whether you are too busy, I cannot
tell : but I am sure, if I had sent word that you
had a legacy of a hundred pounds left you, \
should have had a few lines before now, to
know where and when you were to receive it.'
Yet he strove to excuse her because of the
harvest. " Many a time," continued he, " 1
have set my face over the brown mountains
toward Micklefield. I have seen you in mind
in the harvest field, cutting d<3wn the corn. If
I had wings like a dove I would fly to you, and
look at you. We have had a gre'at deal of rain
here, almost every day, except last week.
When I saw the clouds burst against the mount-
ains, I thought it would stop the rain from
reaching you. If you have had as much rain
as us, you have had a very wet harvest. But
I hope you have got the most of it in, and are
shouting 'Harvest home.'"

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 309

Samuel soon added, " Ten minutes past five
our niece departed this life. She died in the
Lord : and blessed are the dead that die in the
Lord. May you and I be found ready when
the message comes !" Mr. W., who appears to
have remained at Grassington till the solemn
event took place — having been more sudden
than expected — observed in the same letter,
" Father will be at home, if all is well, about
Monday."

On his return home, " he was only able,"
says Mr. Dawson, " to preach a few times, and
attend two missionary meetings, one at East
Keswick, in the Tadcaster, and another at
Garforth, in the Leeds East circuit. He now
began to sink fast, though not confined to bed
till a short time before he died." About a
month before he quitted this transitory state, he
said to his friends, " I am going home ;" and
then informed them of some arrangements he
had made for the improvement of his death.
In these he had only the good of his fellow-
creatures in view ; and through the whole of
them the same distinctiveness of character
the same simplicity, the same benevolence, the
same peculiarities which marked his previous
life, were conspicuous, — some of them, to those
who knew him not, bearing the stamp of osten-
tation, yet perfectly remote from it, — an in-
creasingly sweet, meek, hallowed feeling per-
vaded every word, look, and act, alike ex-
pressive of the mellowing influences of the
Holy Ghost upon his soul, thus checking the

310 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

lighter feelings of the visitant, who might be
tempted to obtrude — the visitant himself feel-
ing that the being before whom he stood had
the consecrating hand of God upon him — that
death was hovering over the ground which sup-
ported him — and that through that same Being
he was brought to the immediate confines of
an eternal world, ready to open and receive him
in any moment of time.

With the exception of a desire to have his
will altered, he appeared to have no other wish
of importance to gratify; and even in this he
was preserved in " perfect peace." Mr. Dawson
visited him on the Wednesday before his death,
and attended to some of his last requests rela-
tive to his will, and other affairs. Martha oc-
cupied her accustomed chair, when he entered
the house, fast approaching to her 80th year,
with her glasses on, and a voice less feminine
than that of most of the softer sex. She re-
ceived him as the friend of her husband, who
was in an upper chamber ; and although he was
so ill the night before that it was uncertain
whether he would see the returning day, he no
sooner heard the voice of Mr. D., than his spirit
revived within him, like that of old Jacob ; and
gathering up his feet, he in effect said, " I will
go and see him before I die." He was quickly
on the ground floor, and took his chair in the
corner by the side of Martha. He told Mr. D.
that he wished to have his will altered. This
was soon done, as his effects were not large,
owing to his charities, his gifts to his children

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 311

and the property of which he had been de-
prived. He further observed, that he wished
to be buried at Aberford — that his friend Simp-
son was to bake a sack of meal into bread —
and that two cheeses were to be purchased.
Mr. D., who was scarcely prepared for the re-
ception of the last two items, wished to know
the reason of such preparation, when Samuel
replied, " There will be a thousand people at
my funeral. As soon as I am gone, you must
advertise it in the Leeds papers, and my friends
will all come." Mr. D. very properly but
affectionately remonstrated with him, suggest-
ing to him the probable cost, the propriety of
persons not specially invited providing for them-
selves, and the serious effect it would have upon
the little he had to leave. " That's raight"
responded Martha, who heard what was said;
" persuade him off it." Samuel, who still re-
tained his ancient spirit, exclaimed, with the
tear starting in his eye, " Expense, barn ! 1
never was a miser while I lived, and I should
not like to die one." Being again pressed to
dismiss the subject from his mind, he said,
" When the multitudes came to our Lord, he
could not think of them fainting by the way."
He reminded Mr. Dawson of the text (Isaiah
xlviii, 18) which he had previously told him to
select, from which to improve the occasion of
his death. On Mr. D. leaving the house,
Martha, being too infirm to accompany him, sent
her voice across the room, and said, in allusion
to the funeral sermon, just as he stood in the

312 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

doorway, " Sec that dc'nl set him te height
This was in true character. She knew Mr.
D.'s high opinion of Samuel ; and although she
dearly loved her husband, yet her stern sense
of justice, and her jealousy for the honour of
God, led her to give what she deemed a timely
caution. On a friend visiting him, and em-
ploying in prayer the common expression,
"Make his bed in affliction;" — "Yes," re-
sponded Samuel, with promptitude and energy,
and slrak it wcel, Lord !"
His tnoughts were now solely directed to
his " departure," and he gave directions to one
of the persons that attended him to take the
dimensions of a closet on the ground floor, in
order to ascertain whether it was sufficiently
large to admit the full length of his body
after his decease. This being done, he said,
" As soon as I die, you must take the body down
and lay it out ; for you will not be able to get the
coffin either down stairs, or out at the window.'
Two voting men, members of the Pontefract
Wesleyan society, watched with him during
the last night of his life ; and from one of these
— Mr. James Foster — some interesting particu-
lars have been communicated. "While I was
in London," said he to them, " Dr. C. encouraged
me to preach full sanctirlcation, and I will do
so. It shall be done : faith laughs at impossi-
bilities, and cries — It shall be done. Sing, joys,
sing." In compliance with this request, they
sung the well known doxologij, composed by
Bishop Kenn,

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 313

** Praise God from whom all blessings flow ;"

a hymn which will never cease to be heard in
heaven by warbling millions of redeemed in-
telligences from earth — its strains no sooner
dropping by one individual, or one part of the
militant church, than resumed by another — the
continuous song flowing on, till the last saint of
God shall wing his way from time to eternity.
On one of the young men asking him whether
he had any wish to be restored so far as to be
able to preach again, he replied, "No;" then
added, " If it would glorify God, and do good to
souls, I should be willing."

In the course of the night, he repeatedly ex-
claimed, " Glory, glory, glory !" then in an
ecstasy broke out — " I shall see him for myself,
and not for another. The Lord has wrought a
miracle for me. He can — I know he can — I
cannot dispute it. Christ in me the hope of
glory. I am like the miser ; the more I have,
the more I want." His ear, like his heart,
seemed only tuned for heavenly sounds. " Sing
the hymn," said he,

" Who are these array 'd in white,
Brighter than the noon-day sun,
Foremost of the sons of light;
Nearest the eternal throne ?"

during the whole of which, he continued to
wave his hand in triumph. Then again, with
untiring perseverance in the exercise of praise,

M My Jesus to know, and feel his blood flow,
'Tis life everlasting, 'tis heaven below."

314 THE YILLAGK BLACKSMITH.

The hymn being finished, he said, " Blessed
Jesus ! this cheers my spirits." It was said
to him, " You will soon be among the dead,
Samuel." " No doubt about that," he replied ;
" but I am ready to be offered up — glory be to
the Lamb ! Some of the friends in London told
me, that I did not know how to pray ; but I know
better than that — glory — glory — glory! Mercy
of mercies ! Lord, save me !" He was again
asked, " What must we say to your friends,
who inquire after you ?" " Tell them, joy, that
I have all packed up — that I am still in the old
ship, with my anchor cast within the veil — and
that my sails are up, filled with a heavenly
breeze. In a short time, I shall be launched
into the heavenly ocean." A mariner, and even
some landsmen, might be able to discover a
confusion of metaphor here ; but the Chris-
tian can look through all this, and can per-
ceive a soul in readiness for a state of endless
felicity.

A heavenly smile played upon his counten-
ance, and the joy he experienced gave a viva-
city to his eye which scarcely comported with
the general debility of his system. Prayer
occupied some of the short intervals between
hymns ; and such was the influence of God
upon every exercise, that it seemed as though
other tones were heard than those from mortal
lips, and the room itself was " the gate of
heaven." One of the persons who attended
him observed, " I have spent whole nights in
reading and prayer: but the night spent by

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 315

tke bedside of Samuel Hick exceeded them
ah."

fn the afternoon of the day on which he
died, some of his friends came from Sherburn
to see him. Unable audibly to pray with them
himself, he requested them to pray, and with
great feebleness gave out the first verse of one
of his favourite hymns,

" I'll praise my Maker while I've breath ;
And when my voice is lost in death,
Praise shall employ my nobler powers."

To a neighbour, he observed, with unusual
solemnity, " I have as much religion as will
take me to heaven ;" then pausing a few seconds ;
" but I have none for Matty ;" adding, with
another pause, " and none for the children."
This is the key which unlocks the secret of
his real feelings, and shows that there was no
thought of funeral parade in what he had pre-
viously observed — nothing beyond a wish that
his remains might admonish the living on the
subject of mortality. He found that he had
nothing of which to boast — no more religion
than was barely necessary — and wished to im-
press upon those around the importance of
personal piety. Some of his last words were,
•' Peace, joy, and love." As evening drew on,
his speech began to falter ; yet every sentence
uttered by those around appeared to be under-
stood ; and when that hymn was sung,

* Ye virgin souls, arise," &c,

316 THi; VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

he entered into the spirit of it ; especially when
the friends came to,

"The everlasting doors

Shall soon the saints receive,
Above yon angel-powers

In glorious joy to live ;
Far from a world of grief and sin,
With God eternally shut in ; — "

at the enunciation of the first line of which
verse he lifted his dying hand, and waved it
around till it fell by his side ; still feebly raising
and turning around his forefinger, as the arm
was stretched on the bed, betokening his triumph
over the u last enemy," and showing to those
who were with him that he was — to use lan-
guage previously employed by him — going
" full sail toward the harbour," and had an en-
trance ministered to him " abundantly into the
everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ." Just at the moment that the vital
spark, which had been some time twinkling in
its socket, was emitting its last ray, he opened
his eyes, and feebly articulated, " I am going ;
get the sheets ready," and died. This was
about eleven o'clock, on Monday night, Novem-
ber 9th, 1829, in the 71st year of his age.*

On the day of interment, which was the suc-
ceeding sabbath, such was the sympathy ex-
cited in the neighbourhood, that the people for

* The age here specified is that which was on the breast
plate of the coffin. His brother, it may be proper to notice, is
of opinion that he was two years older than there stated.
The writer, not having had an opportunity to consult the
register, is unable to decide between the dates

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 31?

some miles around, uninvited, attended the
funeral. " Some hundreds," says Mr. Dawson,
" went to Micklefield, which is about two miles
from Aberford. The funeral procession swelled
as it proceeded ; and when all met at Aberford,
it was computed, on a moderate calculation, that
not less than a thousand persons were as-
sembled together." This rendered Samuel's
" thousand" almost prophetic, and in the dark
ages would have won for him the character of
a seer. Without any pretension to such gifts,
the fact itself of such an extraordinary con-
course of people, in a comparatively thinly po-
pulated district, affords an eminent instance of
public opinion in favour of integrity, usefulness,
and unassuming worth. Mr. D. adds, " Had
not the day been rather wet, and the roads
very dirty in consequence of it, it is probable
many more would have been there. The church
was crowded, and scores could not obtain ad-
mission. The worthy vicar would not permit
his curate to read the service, but went through
it himself, as a mark of the respect he bore to
the deceased, and was much pleased with the
excellence of the singing. It was truly affecting
to see the crowd press to the grave, to take their
(ast look of the coffin that enclosed his mortal
remains. They gazed awhile ; — they turned
aside, and wept, exclaiming, ' If ever there was
a good man, Sammy Hick was one."' Mr. D.
might have added, that the infirm and aged,
who were unable to follow the corpse, appeared
in the doorstead of their houses, wiping away

318 THi; VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

the tears as the procession passed ; and that
pleased as the clergyman was with the singing
the tear was seen glistening in his eye in the
course of the service.

His death was improved the sabbath follow-
ing, by Mr. Dawson, who took the text, which,
as noticed, Samuel had selected. The chapel
was incapable of containing one half of the
people that assembled ; and though there had
been a considerable fall of snow in the course
of the forenoon, the preacher and congregation
were under the necessity of worshipping in the
open air. Such was the anxious solicitude of
the people to pay respect to his memory, that
no less than nine additional funeral sermons
were preached, in different parts of the Tad-
caster circuit, besides others in those of Selby
and Pontefract; and some of the simple-hearted
were heard to say, " I love heaven the better,
because of Sammy Hick being there."

CONCLUSION OF THE MEMOIR.

1. In Samuel Hick we are presented with
an additional exemplification of the numerous
facts which go to support an argument pursued
in a small, but interesting tract, entitled, " Great
Effects from little Causes." It is there
shown, that every man, woman and child can
do something — can do much; that we cannot
stir, without touching some string that will
vibrate after our heads are laid in the dust;
that, one word of pious counsel, uttered in the

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 319

hearing of a child, may produce an effect upon
children's children whose influence may be
felt on the other side of the- globe, and may
extend to eternity ; and that it is not improbable
that eternity will disclose to us, how the as-
tonishing events of this age sprung at first from
the closet of some obscure saint, like Simeon
and Hannah of old, " praying to God alway,
and waiting for the consolation of Israel."
What has resulted from the labours of Samuel
Hick, emphatically one of u the weak things of
the world," is beyond the power of any one,
except an Infinite Intelligence, to calculate.
He set m?ny a human being in motion for
heaven, and accelerated the march of others.

2. The admirable economy of Methodism is
unfolded, in accommodating itself to the bestow-
ments of God to his creatures, whether he con-
fers upon the individual the lesser or the more
exalted intellectual endowments — and the de-
signs of that God in holding every talent in
requisition for the general good of mankind.
No disparagement is intended to other Christian
communities, by stating that the Established
Church, the Calvinists, the Baptists, the So-
ciety of Friends, could not, agreeably to their
economy, have found employment for such a
man as was Samuel Hick. They would have
been at a loss to know what to do with him ;
and would have been ashamed of him as a
preacher, however they might have borne with
him as a Christian. But Methodism, while she
lays her hand upon the pounds, has never dis-

320 TIIK VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

dained to stoop to the pence ; and it is in the
pence — the pence, in more senses than the me-
taphorical one intended — that she finds her
strength. " Gather up the fragments that re-
main, that nothing be lost," will apply in a
thousand cases besides the one which called
forth the remark from the Son of God.

POSTSCRIPT.

In the month of January, 1832, just as some
of the last sheets of the third edition of the
memoir of her departed husband were passing
through the press, Martha was summoned into
the presence of her Lord. With all the pru-
dence and care which characterized her pro-
ceedings, a proper occasion, as will have been
perceived, was all that was necessary to draw
out the truly noble and independent spirit
which she possessed, and of the credit of which
she had been deprived from the heedless
exuberance of her husband's givings. The
profits of the first edition of this volume were
sacredly set apart for her benefit ; and when
Mr. Dawson presented her with the first-fruits,
he was accosted by her with — " I cannot think

of taking any thing, till I know that Mr.

shall suffer no loss by it ;" and it was not till
she was satisfied on this point, that she could
be induced to accept the offering. Her faculties
were greatly impaired before she died ; but
she left the world, if not with Samuel's triumph
in Christian peace.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 321

NOTE.*

The order of God, and the confusion of man,
viewed in connection with religious assemblies.

On the visit of the apostles to Ephesus,
' the whole city was filled with confusion.
Some therefore cried one thing, and some
another : for the assembly was confused ; and
the more part knew not wherefore they were
come together."f Similar effects have followed
in every age, and in almost every city, town,
and village, since that period, on any extraor-
dinary work of God, in the awakening and
conversion of sinners. The stillness and
serenity of the midnight hour seemed to en-
wrap the slumbering citizens, till Paul, " finding
certain disciples" who had only been baptized
"unto John's baptism," and who, like many
moderns, whatever they may have " heard?
have not known " whether there be any Holy
Ghost," " laid his hands upon them," and
preached in their hearing the faith of Christ.!
No sooner could it be affirmed, that u the Holy
Ghost came on them" — that " they spake with
tongues and prophesied" — and that Paul " went
into the synagogue, and spake boldly — disputing
and persuading the things concerning the king-
dom of God" — than "divers were hardened, and

ij

See page 163. f Acts xix, 29, 32. % Acts xix, 2, 6

21

322 THE VILLAGE F.LACKSM ITH.

believed not, but spake evil of that way before the
multitude."* Among the worst of these were
" certain of the vagabond Jews," whose repre-
sentatives in the present day are to be found
in the lower ranks of society, among the vicious
and uninstructed.f When the Lord, however,
began to make bare his arm in judgment as
well as in mercy, " fear fell on them all, and
the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. ":£
But among those who were alanned, there were
only a certain number that " believed" — " con-
fessed"— " showed their deeds" — and " burned"
their " books," by which they had " used curious
arts."§ Up to this period, the opposition was
a good deal confined to the vulgar, as Chris-
tianity laid the axe to the root of their vices.
But when " mightily grew the word of God and
prevailed," affecting the established religion of
the place, to which the secular interests of many
of the worshippers were linked, it was then
that the higher orders of society considered
themselves justified in supporting the virulence
of persecution. " Demetrius, a silversmith,"
who " made silver shrines for Diana" — a busi-
ness that " brought no small gain unto the
craftsmen," led the way. Noble and ignoble
being now engaged — the one in support of their
vices, and the other of their gains, " the whole
city was filled with confusion." It is a re-
markable fact, however, that the confusion be-
longed not to the disciples and brethren, but to

« Acts xix, 6, 9. \ Ver. 13. } Ver. If), 17. <J Ver. 18, 19

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 323

the mob ; — to the latter also was the conflict of
opinion to be charged, some crying " one thing,
and some another;" — and that to them, finally,
was the most profound ignorance to be attributed,
since " the more part knew not wherefore they
were come together."*

" Noisy meetings," so called, in modern
times, are religious assemblies which have
been generally distinguished for sudden awaken-
ings and conversions. Some writers of respect-
ability, under an impression possibly that such
meetings are discreditable to Christianity, have
laboured to remove the noise — as an effect, by
referring the cause, sudden conversion, to apos-
tolic times, and by representing such change as
the result of miracle, in order to confine it to
the first age of the Christian Church ; arguing
from the cessation of the one, the absurdity of
the other. Among those who are desirous of
referring every thing " quick and powerful" to
primitive days, Dr. Mant takes a distinguished
stand. His language is, " Where the conver-
sion was sudden or instantaneous, it was the
consequence of miraculous evidence to the truth.
When the preaching of Peter on the day of
pentecost added to the church three thousand
souls, they were men who had been amazed
and confounded by the effusion of the Holy
Ghost, and the supernatural gift of tongues."
Had the learned prelate paid proper attention
to the subject, he would not have selected this
portion of Scripture history for the establish-

* Acts xix, 29, 32.

324 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

merit of his non-experience theory ; for it ap
pears,

1. That the apostles and brethren, who were
all members of the Christian Church, about one
hundred and twenty in number, were assembled
in an upper room in Jerusalem.*

2. That the apostles and disciples were the
only persons that saw the cloven tongues of fire
— were filled with the Holy Ghost — and spake
in different languages.!

3. That on a report of this being " noised
abroad, the multitude came together. "J These,
it ought to be observed, had neither seen any
thing that had occurred, nor even then received
the Holy Ghost. § Having only heard of the
descent of the Spirit, their evidence of course —
allowing a trifle for lapse of time — was similar
to what is furnished to every man in the pre-
sent day, who is confirmed in the truth by a
perusal of the fact in the sacred pages.

4. That when they heard the apostles speak
in different tongues, they, in common with all
who read the account with seriousness and
attention, "were amazed and marvelle d. "||

5. That instead of being equally convinced,
much more converted, they were all " in doubt ;"
and some not only hung in a state of suspense,
but " others mocking, said, These men are full
of new wine."^[ In this state, amazed, marvel-
ling, doubting, and jnocking, each part sustained
by different persons probably, as in a drama,

* Acts i, 12, 15. t Acts ii, 1,4. % Ver. 5, 6.

$ Vcr. 33 || Vcr. 7, 12. IT Ver. 12, 13.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 325

the miracle left them; unconvinced, and uncon-
verted. To attempt, therefore, to get rid of
modern instantaneous conversions, by attribut-
ing those in the apostolic age to miracle, not
only evinces a defect in Biblical knowledge, a
disposition to confine the Spirit's influence to
peculiar modes and seasons, but an awful in-
capacity— from a want of experience — to treat
on a subject so immediately connected with
personal salvation and the sacred office.

Turning from the miracle and its effects of
amazement, §c, we find Peter publicly address-
ing the " multitude" convened on the occasion.*
The general topics on which he enlarged were
the predictions of the Old Testament in re-
ference to the Messiah* — the signs of his com-
ing— the blessings of his kingdom — his cha-
racter— his miracles — his crucifixion — his re-
surrection— his ascension — and the gift of the
Holy Ghost. f What, then, are the facts of
the case ? They are these — and the appeal is
made to the sacred records : —

1. That the probability is in favour of Peter
having addressed the multitude in his own
tongue, the language spoken by the Jews at
the time ; thus, he accosted them, " Ye men of
Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem," in-
cluding both natives and strangers, to whom by
their residence the language was familiar.^ In
his more private conversations, and in his ad-
dresses to select parties, belonging to different

* Acts ii, 14. f Ver. 14-36. % Ver- 14,

326 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

nations, he, together with his brethren, em-
ployed their own separate tongues.*

2. That it was through the preaching of
Christ crucified, and not through the miracu-
lous gift of tongues, that the multitudes were
awakened : hence it is affirmed, " Now, when
they heard these things" — heard that God had
made that same Jesus, whom they had crucified,
both Lord and Christ, " they were pricked in
their hearts, and said unto Peter and to the
rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what
shall we do ?"t

3. That it was not till after the delivery of
the general discourse, that signs of genuine con-
version succeeded — Peter being obliged to urge
the subject home to the bosoms of his auditors,
with " Repent, and be baptized, every one of
you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the re-
mission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of
the Holy Ghost f\ the whole, up to this mo-
ment, being deemed impenitent, unbaptized,
unpardoned, and without, the saving influence
of the Spirit of God. It was only subsequent
to this period that the inspired penman could
observe, " Then they that gladly received his
word were baptized ; and that same day there
were added unto them about three thousand
souls. "§

From the whole of this statement, it is evi-
dent, that it was not the medium — not the
tongue — not any number of tongues — not even
the miracle imparting the gift of those tongues,

* Yer. 8-11. f Vrr. 3G, 37. % Acts ii, 38. <J Ver. 41.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 327

that produced the change, but the subject matter
of the Christian ministry : the one — viz., the
gift of tongues, as well it might, filled the mind.
with amazement ; the other — the words of God,
effected the conversion of the heart ; and it is
still that " word" accompanied by the energy
of the Holy Ghost, which the Divine Being
has employed down to the present time, as the
grand and leading instrument in the conversion
of sinners. If, agreeably to the original com-
mission, the gospel was to be preached to every
creature, and throughout every era of time ; —
if the same end was to be accomplished by it,
which could only follow by the same accom-
panying influence ; it is rational to suppose,
since the same necessity exists, that it will
prove as much " the power of God to salvation"
in the present, and in Great Britain, as in the
first century at Jerusalem. With the same
instrument, operating on similar subjects, we
are not only authorized to expect the same
grand internal change, but also minor, external,
and often incidental effects, to exhibit themselves.
By paying a little attention to the subject,
the difference between an ancient and a modern
revival will be found not so great — and therefore
not so alarming — as some persons are led to
imagine. The following are a few of the points
of agreement : —

AN ANCIENT REVIVAL A MODERN REVIVAL

IN JERUSALEM. AMONG THE WESLEYANS.

1. Prior to the religious 1. The preaching of the
commotion in the holy city, gospel invariably precedes a

328

I HE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

" the word," as has already
been observed, was preached
by the apostles, Acts ii, 14.
2. The people were
"pricked in their heart,"
verse 37.

3. There was a great in-
quiry among the persons se-
riously affected; anxiously
asking, " Men and brethren,
what shall we do V Acts
ii, 37.

4. The serious inquirers

" continued
verse 42.

m prayers.

5. To prayer, they added
the "breaking of bread,"
Acts ii, 42, 46.

revival of the work of God
among the Methodists.

2. Conviction of the ag-
gravating nature of moral
evil is experienced, and a
desire, according to rule, to
flee from the wrath to come,
is expected in all who unite
themselves to the society.

3. Inquirers, denominat-
ed sincere seekers of salva-
tion, multiply on those occa-
sions ; their earnestness and
language varying, according
to the degree of feeling ex-
cited.

4. Though prayer meet-
ings are regularly establish-
ed throughout the connec-
tion, they are much more
numerous under a quicken-
ing influence of the Spirit
of God than at other times.
Then, more than at other
seasons, they pray "with-
out ceasing ;" so much so,
indeed, as frequently to an-
noy their prayerless neigh-
bours.

5. As no mention is made
of wine in this case, and the
private members were en-
gaged in " breaking bread
from house to house," it io
warrantable to conclude,
that an allusion is made to
the Aya-ivai, lovefeasts, to
which young converts are
extremely partial, and whicl/

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

329

6. They gladly "receiv-
ed" the * word" preached,
verse 41.

7. A love to the sanctua-
ry of the Most High follow-
ed ; for they continued " dai-
ly with one accord in the
temple," Acts ii, 46.

8. The religion of the
temple entered their dwell-
ings, in attestation of which,
" they ate their meat with
gladness and singleness of

heart" "praising God,"

Acts ii, 46, 47.

9. "They continued stead-
fastly in the apostles' doc-
trine and fellowship," verse
42.

10. The most expansive
benevolence was manifested,

constitute a part of the pru-
dential means of grace among
the Wesleyans.

6. Ministers are looked
upon as angels of God —
and their message is the joy
of the soul ; and the man
who is most useful in a re
vival is most beloved.

7. Places of worship are
crowded — old chapels are
enlarged — and new ones are
built. The language of the
people is, " How amiable
are thy tabernacles, O Lord
of hosts !" In a moment's
absence, they are ready to
exclaim, " My soul longeth,
yea, even fainteth, for the
courts of the Lord."

8. At tables, where " grace
before meat" was never
heard, and in houses where
a family altar was never
erected, the voice of prayer
is poured forth, and the
voice of praise makes melo-
dy to " them that are with-
out."

9. Uniting themselves in
church fellowship to the
body, the young converts
conduct themselves agreea-
bly to the gospel, and to the
rules and regulations im-
posed upon them by a con-
ference of Christian minis-
ters.

10. There is, perhaps, not
a Christian community in

330 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

as a fruit of the Christianity the world which supports a
possessed: they " sold their more extensive system of
possessions and goods" — charity than the Wesleyans.
"parted them to all, as eve- Such are their givings, that
ry man had need" — broke they have been advanced as
"bread from house to house" an objection against the
— " and had all things com- preachers, as though they
mon," Acts ii, 44, 45, 46. were too liberally supported;

and these have increased
and decreased with the spi-
ritual life of the body.

In what, then, consists the principal differ-
ence 1 In Jerusalem, the converts " had favour
with all the people ;'' in modern times, an ob-
jection is taken against revivals, because of the
occasional noise, which forms an accompani-
ment.

There are persons that merit an apologist,
and may be excused for the part they take in
attempting to quell an apparent tumult, when
persons professing unusual sanctity, and who
have been disciplined in the midst of such as-
semblies, have taken offence at them. They
have sometimes raised as great a clamour for
order, as the clamour has actuallv amounted to
which they have attempted to silence. Order,
decorum, confusion, &c, very often mean
just as much as we are disposed to make of
them. Imagine a magnificent edifice, in the
course of erection, rivalling, in its splendour, the
noble minster at York. Persons totally unac-
quainted with the plans and designs of the
architect, on seeing a hundred men employed in
different places, crossing and recrossing each
other's path, hewing wood, drawing water, mix-

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 331

ing, chiseling, hammering, moulding, with a
hundred other et ceteras, would be ready to label
the whole as one immense mass of confusion.
But the architect himself, confident in the har
monious movement of his own plans, and who
can connect the whole from beginning to end,
sees that every man is in his proper place, and
that the building is regularly rising — proceeding
with order — going on toward completion. This,
though not a perfect, is a sufficient illustration
of a prayer meeting. A hundred persons
are associated together, with a hundred wants,
in a hundred different states, with a hundred
objects in view, and with as many different
modes of accomplishing their purposes. Here
is one dumb, and as a beast before his Maker,
capable only of expressing himself by a sigh.
A second, more deeply wrought upon, gives
utterance to his sorrow by a heavy sob. A
third breaks silence with a groan. A fourth,
drinking still deeper of the wormwood and gall,
actually roars out for the disquietude of his
soul. A fifth is wrestling with God in mighty
prayer for the blessing of pardon, while a dozen
more penitents are smiting on their breasts, and
each responds to the prayer publicly offered,
" God be merciful to me a sinner" — a score of
voices lifted up at the same time, and striking
m, like the people of old, with a hearty " Amen."
Two or three persons, in the midst of this,
having obtained peace with God, being very dif-
ferently affected, are ready to commence a song
of praise^ and nothing but the word " Glory*'

332 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

dwells upon their lips. Though the prayei
publicly presented to God is one, yet the states
of the people differ. It cannot perhaps reach
every case, because every case is not known to
the person who is the mouth of the audience ;
and persons will be affected in proportion as it
reaches themselves — thus passing from one to
another : and till every case is reached, agony
itself will compel the penitent to throw in his
sententious and ejaculatory interruptions, in
order to hasten the blessing. If the people
were in one state, had all arrived at the same
stage of religious knowledge, had the same
strength of intellect, and the same views, they
might then be brought to keep tolerable time
with each other, like a number of clocks or
watches. Until this is the case, the character
of a meeting, composed of persons taking the
kingdom of heaven by holy violence, will vary:
and to a person entering into a place at the
period just described, the whole might appear a
scene of confusion, and he might, by way of
hushing it into stillness, bawl out more lustily
than any of them for order and for a constable.
But such a person should recollect, that man's
confusion is very often God's order. The Di-
vine Being, who sees not as man — man, who is
unable to look beyond the veil of humanity —
beholds the same Spirit at work, though va-
rious in his operations — the same grand work
going on, though in different persons — the work
of prayer, praise, conviction, repentance, pardon,
holiness, love, joy, peace, all proceeding in regu-

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 333

lar order, not confusedly mixed up in one human
soul at the same moment of time, but distinct, in
different persons. A few varied gestures or
movements to the eye of the beholder, or a few
jarring sounds to the eaf of the hearer, may cow-
found the individual himself who thus looks
and listens, but cannot change the distinct cha-
racter of the work. A thousand congregations
met at the same moment, under the immediate
eye of God, engaged in prayer and praise, though
in different places, are not more distinct, or less
to be charged with disorder, than the separate
characters in a prayer meeting, each of whom
has his distinct work of grace upon his heart,
and his distinct sentiments, " uttered or unex-
pressed," on his tongue. There is nothing
irrational in different men in different states be-
ing differently affected, and manifesting those
internal effects by external signs. Confusion in
the mass to man is order to God in the indi-
vidual. They have only to be separated to ap-
pear so to their fellows. A partition of burned
clay, three inches thick, will settle the differ-
ence even with man, between confusion and
order ; on each side of a half dozen of which
partitions separate groups may be differently
engaged, one in sighing, another in groaning, a
third in singing, a fourth in murmuring accents,
like the noise of many waters, following the
minister in the Litany, or in any part of the
Church service. Let men only be saved sys-
tematically, with the charm of brick and mortar
between them, and the work at once becomes

334 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

genuine ! But the moment the groaners blend
with the sighers, the work loses its character,
as though the ear of the Saviour could not dis-
tinguish sounds, the eye of the Saviour could
not discover the shades of difference in the
work, or the different workings of the heart !
A worthy gentleman who wished to systema-
tize matters, and have every thing done de-
cently and in order, feeling, as a member of the
establishment, for the honour of religion, dis-
covered his concern for, and insight into, divine
things, in rather a singular manner. There
was a revival of religion among the Wesleyans
in Manchester, in the summer of 1816, and the
grand place of resort for the devout was Old-
ham-street chapel. As there was an occa-
sional mingling of voices in the chapel, and
these had risen so high as to bring the assem-
blies under the imputation of " noisy meetings,"
the gentleman referred to, knowing that Dr.
Law, then bishop of Chester, was about to
visit Manchester, took the alarm, and went to
an influential member of society, to see whether
the work, or in other words, the meetings,
could not be suspended awhile, till the digni-
tary had left the town, that the credit of the
town might not be injured in his estimation.
The manufacture of the town will at once ac-
count for the gentleman's notions ; going on the
supposition that the work of God might be
managed like the machinery in a cotton mill,
put in motion when we please — worked slow
or fast — or laid to red. between meals! The

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 335

work might be suspended here, if it could be
effected hereafter ; but this can only be shown
on popish principles, and on the principles of
the bishop himself, who hesitated not to pray
for one of the royal family after her demise,
and which prayer is yet in print, in the funeral
sermon delivered on the occasion. Certainly,
groans in the living are as justifiable as prayers
for the dead, and earnestness in religion as
praiseworthy as indifference.

336 THE VILLAGE BLACKSIWITH.

THE SUBSTANCE OF AN ADDRESS.

"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every
thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ
Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise
not prophesyings. Prove all things : hold fast that which is
good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very
God of peace sanctify you wholly : and I pray God your
whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved blameless
unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ," 1 Thess. v,
16-23.

I have to tell you, that you have only an
old blacksmith in the pulpit to-night, and that
you may look for very plain truths. When I
first began to preach, I was sadly afraid lest I
should not be able to recollect my text, for I
could neither read nor write. But now, blessed
be the Lord, I can do both. The Lord is a
wonderful teacher ; and when he undertakes
any work, he can soon make a job of it. I
cannot preach a learned sermon ; but I can
give you the word of God just as I have it
before me.

" Rejoice evermore." The text says, " ever-
more." What ! rejoice in tribulation, in famine
and nakedness — when there is no money in the
pocket, and no meat in the cupboard ? was
there ever a man, think you, that could do so?
O yes, my friends, I can find you a man that
did. What says Ilabakkuk ? " Although the fig

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 337

tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the
vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the
fields shall yield no meat ; the flock shall be cut
°lff from the fold, and there shall be no herd in
the stalls : yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will
joy in the God of my salvation." Do you think
I cannot find you another in the word of God ?
O yes, I can. What says Job, after all his
losses and sufferings ? " Naked came I out of
my mother's womb, and naked shall I return
thither : the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken
away :" and what then ? Why, " Blessed be the
name of the Lord /" Who would have expected
this ? Not the infidel, I am sure. He would
rather have thought that Job ought to have
said, " And cursed be the name of the Lord !"
And do you think, friends, that we are going
to be beat by these Old Testament saints —
those that lived in the dark ages? No, no.
St. Paul speaks about being " joyful in tribula-
tion" In the text, he says, " Rejoice evermore :"
— " and again I say, Rejoice." You may do as
you like, friends; but for my part, I am de-
termined to enjoy my privilege — to " rejoice
evermore," as here commanded.

" Pray without ceasing." That is, live in
the spirit of prayer ; and pray with your voice
as often as you have opportunity. You may
pray when you are at your work, as well as
when you are upon your knees. Many a time
have I prayed while shoeing a horse ; and I
know that God has both heard and answered
me. Were it not for this inward prayer, how

22

338 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

could we "pray icithout ceasing ?" St. Paul
did not mean, that we were to leave our busi-
ness, or our families, and be always upon our
knees. No, no. I have my business to mind,
and my family to provide for : and, glory be to
God ! while we "provide things honest in the
sight of all men" we may " icorkout" our " salva-
tion" by praying secretly to him. But this is
not all. We should have set times for prayer,
both public and private; we should pray with
our families, and also in the house of God. It
would be a sad thing, if, in the day of judgment,
any of our children were to rise up and say,
" I never heard my parents pray ; I may have
heard them curse and swear, and tell lies, but
not pray." Other children may say, " We
have heard our parents pray — for they said the
Lord's prayer ; the very first word of which
was a lie in their mouths. They knew that
God was not their ' Father ;' they neither loved
nor served him, but were of their father the devil?
O, my friends, this outside, \Yi\s formal religion
will not do ; we must get it into our hearts.
Then our prayers will be acceptable to God,
and useful to ourselves.

"In every thing give thanks." What!
for a bad debt, or a broken leg 1 for parish pay ?
for a dinner of herbs ? for a thatched cottage ?
Ay, praise God for all things. He knows what
is best for us. We have more than we de-
serve ; and we should neither take a bite of
bread, nor a drink of water, without giving
thanks for them. If we were more thankful

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 339

for our mercies, God would give us more : but
we are by nature so very ungrateful — either mur-
muring against providence, or expecting so
much more than common food and raiment, that
we need a positive command before we will
give thanks for what God gives to us out of his
free bounty. You must give thanks, then ;
"for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus con-
cerning you? Now, the will of God should
be the law to man; and you hear that it "is
the will of God in Christ Jesus" that Chris-
tian men should " rejoice evermore, pray with-
out ceasing, and in every thing give thanks."
Another part of the text is,

" Quench not the Spirit." You that have
the Spirit of God, see that you do not quench
it. Grace is a very tender plant, and may easily
be destroyed. You need not go to bed drunk
to quench the Spirit. It may be quenched by
neglecting prayer, by giving your minds to
foolish and trifling objects, by attending to
earthly things, by refusing to do good, by not
praying with your families. The master with
whom I was an apprentice never used family
prayer : I have often thought of it since : and it
was no wonder that we grew up so very wicked.
When I got converted, it was as natural for me
to pray with my family as it was to live. I
should be like a fish out of water without prayer.
But we may also grieve or quench the Spirit, by
refusing to do our duty, and by speaking rashly
with our mouths. I remember quenching the
Spirit of God in this wav once. A man came

340 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

into my shop, and asked me to do a job for him.
Being afraid he would never pay, I felt vexed
that he should ask me, and hastily told him
that I would not do it. But I soon felt that I
had done wrong, and would have given almost
any thing to have had my words back again.
Besides, I thought the refusal might lose the
man a half day's work. But I was off my
guard ; the devil gained his point ; and pride
hindered me from confessing my sin. Well,
what was to be done ? Satan had gotten me
down ; but I was not to lie there, and give all
up. No. I said to my wife, " I have lost my
evidence of the favour of God ; I will go to Mr.
Bramwell — he is a man of prayer, and will help
me to obtain it again." He did so, and I found
it — glory be to God !

" Despise xot prophesyings." Do not
turn your backs upon the word of God ; for
"faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the,
word of God." I told you that you have only
an old blacksmith for your preacher. But you
must not think, that, because of that, you have
no need to repent and turn to God. What I
say is true ; and if I speak according to the will
of God, you have as much right to attend to
what I say, as though the greatest preacher in
the world were in the pulpit. You may not
think me a very wise preacher, but I am a very
safe one for you ; for if I preach at all, it must
be the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know nothing
else ; and if I were to lose my religion, I should
not offer to prc3<>h another sermon. But J

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 341

must get on, or I shall preach too long — and
long sermons do no good. In the first age of
Christianity, some were for Paul, some for
Apollos, and some for Cephas. Some said one
thing, and some said another: but we are to
" try the spirits whether they are of God" And
St. Paul says,

" Prove all things." Do not be content
with any religion that comes to hand, but ex-
amine it, and see if it be right according to
Scripture. Some folk boast about not changing
their religion, and that — however they may
live — reckon they will not have to seek their
religion at last. Alas, for them ! They are
called Christians on no better ground than
Turks are called Mohammedans — merely be-
cause their fathers and their grandfathers were
called so. When I first became religious, I
thought I would join the best people and be
right, if possible. I knew what the Church
was ; so that I did not need to try it. I went
to a Catholic chapel, as the Catholics say they
are the oldest Christians in the world, and make
great pretensions to be the true Church. But I
did not understand their Latin prayers and
monkish ceremonies, and found I could get no
good to my soul there. I then went to a Quaker
meeting ; but there was never a word spoken ;
and I wanted to know how I might love and
serve God. After that, I went to the Baptists,
and the Calvinists ; but the Methodists suited
me best. Still I am not slavishly bound to any
party ; and if I could find a gainer, a better, or

342 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

a cheaper way of getting to heaven, I would
willingly go that way. " Hold fast that which
is goody Having found religion, don't be so
ready to part with it. Hold it fast. The world,
the ilesh, and the devil, will strive to get it from
you ; but be determined sooner to part with your
life than make shipwreck of faith and a good
conscience.

" Abstain from all appearance of evil."
This is a capital direction. How many people
get wrong through self-conceit and proud con-
fidence ! " O," say they, " there is no harm in
such a thing, and such a thing ; it is not clearly
forbidden in Scripture." They are not sure
whether it is right or wrong ; so they will even
make the venture, although the Scripture says,
" He that doubteth is damned''' — that is, con-
demned in his conscience. If there be an
" appearance of evil" do not venture. When I
go anywhere on business, I always strive to
get out of the way of wicked men. I am like a
fish out of water here again : I cannot live out
of my element ; I am always afraid of being
corrupted by them. " Can a man take fire into
his bosom, and his clothes not be burned V Now,
I am coming to the very best part of the sub-
ject: I am sure I can say something about
sanctification, for I love it best.

" And the very God of peace sanctify
you wholly throughout spirit, soul, and
body." It seems to me that man is made up
of three parts — a spirit, which is immortal — a
soul, which he has as an animal — and a body

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 343

which is the dwelling-place of the soul and
spirit. The body will soon die ; and of each it
may soon be said, " Earth to earth, ashes to
ashes, dust to dust." But when that part of
us which is taken from the earth shall join
again its "kindred dust," it will then have
passed into another state, and will either be
" numbered with the blest," or " with the
damned cast out." Should it have been made
holy during the time it was united to the body,
it will go to a place of happiness. If unsancti-
fied, it will be driven to a place of misery. Some
men have thought that the terms " spirit and
soul" in the text, refer to the powers and dis-
positions of the mind ; but whichever way it is,
and whether you divide man into three parts,
or thirty parts, St. Paul means to include them
ail in this entire sanctification. We are first
to be sanctified, and then to be " preserved
blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ." The justification of a sinner is a great
work, which none but God can perform ; but to
sanctify that sinner wholly is almost more than
the mind can understand. There are many
who stagger at the doctrine of entire sanctifica-
tion, and cannot think that it refers to any state
of grace upon earth. But St. Paul prays that
the Thessalonians may be thus sanctified, and
often speaks of it in his other epistles. He
declares that " this is the will of God, even your
sanctification" I had doubts about this doctrine
once ; but I was convinced of the truth of it
one day, while going through a wood. I saw

344 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

two trees which had been felled. One of them
had been cut away to make a ship, or a coffin,
or something else : but the stamp was left in
the ground, and young trees were again grow-
ing out of the old one. Ah, thought I, this is
like a man who is justified. The stump of his
evil nature remains, and fresh evils spring up
and trouble him. Well, sirs, I came to the
other tree. It was laid upon the ground, but
the roots were stubbed up, so that it could not
grow again. I said to myself, This tree is like
a man in a sanctified state ; the strings are cut
that tied him to the world ; and the earth is no
longer about his roots ; " the world is crucified"
to him, and he " unto the v:orld." I got a fair
view of the doctrine of sanctification that day ;
and it was the Lord himself that made use of
these two trees to teach me what I desired to
know. I sometimes compare religion to the
best coin of the realm. First, there is repent-
ance : this may be compared to a seven-shilling
piece ; though there is but little of it, still it is
good. Then comes pardon : this is like half a
guinea. Next comes sanctification : this is like
a guinea. Now, who would be content with
seven shillings, or even with half a guinea,
when he might just as well have a whole guinea,
by applying for it ?

What a blessed world this will be, when the
Christian Church zealously contends for the
doctrine of Christian holiness ! Nearly the
whole of our natural disorders are owing to our
sins. If people were more religious, there

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 345

would not be so much need of doctors; and
when the millennium comes, they may get a
fresh trade ; for as there will then be no more
sin in the world, so there will be no more pain
or sickness. This state of holiness is not
without its trials. As you got into it by faith,
you may get out of it by unbelief. You must
not think that the battle is ended, or the work
is done, when you have stepped into this liberty
of the gospel. No : you are to be

" Preserved blameless." When perse-
cution or tribulation arises, whether from the
devil or man, do not part with your sanctification.
It will abide a storm. Do not slip into a state
which is more dangerous, though not so much
exposed; and if you should lose your hold,
strive to get it again. It sometimes happens,
in a great battle, that a particular house or barn
is taken and retaken many times in a day. I
have lost this sanctification at different times,
but I always got it again. I have suffered a
good deal for sanctification. The devil once
got hold of me thus : — A cunning man came
into my shop one day, and asked me what good
I got by going to love-feasts, and other meetings,
and whether it was not possible to live to God
without so much trouble, and so much praying ?
What he said set me a reasoning. I thought I
could, and began to try ; but I soon lost my
evidence of sanctification, and as soon felt my
loss. I was like old Pilgrim, who had lost his
roll, and went back to find it.

There are people who believe that sin will

346 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

never be destroyed, but by death ; and thus they
make death a mightier conqueror than Jesus
Christ. The founders of our Church had other
views, for they taught us to pray, that the
11 thoughts of our hearts may be cleansed by
the inspiration of the Holy Spirit." If the
thoughts are cleansed, we are sure that the
words will be holy and the life good ; for it is
out of the heart, as the fountain, that all evils
flow. The language is nothing but the bell,
and the hands the index, to show what is within.
If there was no clock-work in the inside, we
should never know the hour of the day. The
promise of the Saviour is, that the gospel shall
be preached as a witness among all nations,
and that then the end shall come. The end of
what? — the end of the world? No, no; the
wickedness of the wicked shall come to an end,
and the earth shall be filled with the glory of
God. This doctrine I will preach to the end
of my life. If the king were to make a de-
cree, that if any man dared to preach the doc-
trine of sanctification he should have his head
cut off, 1 would willingly go and lay my head
upon the block, and would shout with my last
breath, "May the very God of peace sanctify
you wholly throughout body, and soul, and spirit,
and preserve you blameless unto the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ." O, friends, get this
sanctification of the heart — pray to God for it
earnestly — believe that it is your privilege to
enjoy it — and claim the blessing by faith in
Jesus Christ.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 347

The papists talk of a purgatory after death ;
but I have been in one in this life ; —

" 'Tis worse than death my God to love,
And not my God alone."

I never mean to be in this purgatory again.
While I live in the enjoyment of this religion, I
will invite others to partake of it. Yes, I will
preach this sanctification

-" While I've breath,

And when my voice is lost in death,
Praise shall employ my nobler powers."

Sin has led many a man to destruction, but I
never heard that holiness ever injured any one.
I had a man that lived with me ; he was a very
good workman, but determined to live in sin.
He would never come in to family prayer, and
it grieved me sadly that any man should live
in my house who was such an enemy to godli-
ness. He was such a spendthrift, and repro-
bate, that he had hardly any clothes to his back,
and was always in debt at the alehouses and
shoemaker's. Well, I thought, " This must
come to an end ;" and I determined to part with
him. While reasoning one day upon it, I
thought again, " How many years has God
had patience with thee, Sammy ? Why, five
and twenty years !" Then, I said to myself,
" I must have a bit more patience with this poor
fellow, and try some other means to bring about
his conversion." Well, sirs, I set a trap for
him, and baited it with faith and prayer. I
go" him persuaded to go to a lovefeast. The

348 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

people wondered to see him there. He went
out of curiosity, to hear what the friends had to
say, and, it may be, to make sport of them.
But God found him out, and brought him into
great distress of soul. This ended in his con-
version. God made a bran new man of him ;
and he now finds that godliness has the pro-
mise of this life. He looks a hundred pound
better than he did. He soon began to pay off
his old debts, and now lives without making
fresh ones. Did sin ever do a man any good like
this ? No. It promises much, but it never per-
forms what it promises. The truth is, it has
nothing to give ; for " the wages of sin is death."
Every sinner will shrink from the payment of
those wages which he has earned by a life
of sin.

It is religion that makes good husbands,
good wives, good children, good masters, and
good servants. It is the best thing a man can
have in this world, and it is what will fit him
for heaven. May God save you ! I hope I
shall meet you all in heaven. I feel such love
to you that I could take you all in my arms,
and carry you into Abraham's bosom. 0, that
every person in this congregation may turn
from his evil ways, and become a new crea-
ture ! May " the very God of peace sanctify yac
wholly, and preserve you blameless in body
soul, and spirit !" Amen !

CONTENTS

TO

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

CHAPTER I.

His birth — Parentage— Hears John Nelson — Disturbance
during street-preaching — Is bound an apprentice to a black-
smith— His conduct — Attends a lovefeast — Becomes the sub-
ject of divine impressions — Hears Thomas Peace— Visits
York — Scenes of riot — Hears Richard Burdsall — His con-
duct toward a persecuting clergyman — His heart increasing-
ly softened — Conviction — Mr. Wesley— The good effects of
that venerable man's ministry, . . . Page 13

CHAPTER II.

He leaves his master before the expiration of his appren-
ticeship— Is providentially directed to a suitable situation,
and commences business for himself— His marriage — His
benevolence — Death of his wife's mother — Is alarmed by a
dream — Obtains mercy — Suddenness of his conversion — Its
fruits — His zeal — Answer to prayer, and effects of his ex-
postulation with a landlady — Summary of the evidence of
his conversion, ....... 31

CHAPTER III.

He seeks church fellowship — Advises with a pious cler-
gyman, with whom he meets in band — Unites himself, on the
clergyman's leaving the neighbourhood, to the Wesleyan
Methodists — The kind of preaching under which he profited
— Society at Sturton Grange — A revival of religion — Two
colliers rendered extensively useful — A solitary barn the
resort of the devout — Samuel's distress on account of in-
dwelling sin, and his deliverance from it — Singular occur-
rence— Deep distress compatible with a state of justifica-
tion, 49

CHAPTER IV.

Samuel's public character — His call to speak in public—
A dream — Reproves a elerjjjyraan — Assists in prayer meet-

350 CONTENTS VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

ings — Visits Howden and other places — A remarkable out
pouring of the Spirit of God — His power in prayer — Labours
to be useful — Suits his language and thoughts to the employ-
ment of persons addressed — A general plan laid down for the
spread of religion in the villages of Garforth, Barwick, &c.
— Samuel received as a regular local preacher — His person
— Intellect — Influence — Peculiarities — Tenderness — Lan-
guage— Style of preaching — An apology for his minis-
try, Page 65

CHAPTER V.

His diligence — The light in which he beheld mankind —
The substance of a conversation held with Earl Mexborough
— Samuel's circumscribed knowledge in natural history — His
views of the Bible — Proofs in favour of the doctrine of fu-
ture rewards and punishments — His visit to the scat of Earl
Mexborough — A point of conscience — A painting — Fidelity
in reproving sin, at the hazard of being injured in his trade
— The millennium dexterously hitched in, as a check to
pleasure-takers — Three hunting ecclesiastics rendered the
subject of merriment among the titled laity — Ministerial
fruit a proof of the power of truth, not of a call to preach it
— Duty on saddled horses viewed as a hardship — Samuel's
more extended labours — Privations — Persecutions — A poor
widow — A conquest over bigotry at Ledsham, . . 93

CHAPTER YI.

His qualifications for soliciting pecuniary aid — An unsuc-
cessful application to a clergyman — Relieves his circuit from
a debt of seventy pounds — His anxiety to obtain a chapel at
Aberford — A miser, and his manner of addressing him — A
chapel erected — Contests with different avaricious characters
— A visit to Rochdale — Administers seasonable relief to a
preacher's family — His Scriptural views of charity — Supplies
a poor family with coals — Regales part of a company of
soldiers on a forced march — An amusing domestic scene —
Visitation of the sick — Gives up the use of tobacco from
principle — His indisposition, and inattention to the advice
of his medical attendant — The good effects of his state of
mind upon others — Raises a subscription for a poor man —
Relieves a poor female — His love to the missionary cause —
Origin of missionary meetings among the Wesleyans, US

CHAPTER VII.
Hi3 patriotic fueling — Hich price of provisions- -Differs

CONTENTS — -VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 351

with Mr. Pawson for prognosticating evil— Letter to the
Rev. Edward Irving on prophecy — Threatened invasion of
Bonaparte — An address to the king — Samuel's loyalty — M
A. Taylor, Esq. — The suppression of a religious assembly
— A defence of a religious revival — His interview with Mr.
Taylor — Obtains a license to preach — An allusion to him
in a parliamentary debate, .... Page 150

CHAPTER VIII.

His power in prayer — Divine impressions — An afflicting
providence — Remarkable answers to prayer — Familiar ex-
pressions in prayer to be avoided — Encounters a blacksmith
— His usefulness — His meekness under persecution — Sin-
gular method of self-defence against the aspersions of a cler-
gyman— Musical festivals — Mr. Bradburn — Lovefeast — Per-
fection— Seasonable remarks — The doctrine of sanctification
maintained in opposition to a clergyman — Cheerful disposi-
tion— Indiscretionate zeal in a meeting of the Society of
Friends 169

CHAPTER IX.

His self-denial — Sympathy for the poor — Gratitude for
mercies — Early rising — Singular band-meeting — The best
way of beginning the day — His conduct in the families he
visited — Bolton — Ratcliffe Close — Often abrupt in his man-
ners— His views of proprietorship — A genuine Wesleyan —
An attempt to purchase him — His character as the head of
a family — Gives up business — Preaching excursions — Visits
Rigton — Providential supply — His public addresses — De-
light in his work — E. Brook, Esq. — Denby Dale — Prosper-
ity of the work of God — A new chapel — Samuel visits Roch-
dale— Rises superior to his exercises — Takes a tour into
different parts of Lancashire — Great commercial distress —
liberality of P. E. Towneley, Esq. — Meeting for the relief
of the poor— Samuel's return home — Visits different parts
of the York circuit — Revival of religion — Persecution, 197

CHAPTER X.

His first visit to London — Dialogue at an ma on the road
-^■Wesleyan missionary meeting — Preaches at Southwark
-r-Exalts divine truth at the expense of human knowledge —
Persons benefited by his addresses — His notions of nervous
complaints — His second visit to the metropolis — Mrs. Wrath-
all ; her character, experience, and affliction — Samuel's gen-
eral views ai-y] feelings, as connected with his second visit

352 CONTEXTS VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

— Pleads strenuously for the doctrine of sanctification — Is
both opposed and supported in it by persons of the Baptist
persuasion — Receives a gentle admonition from Martha — A
specimen of one of his public addresses when in one of his
most felicitous mocds Page 236

CHAPTER XI.

Continues in London — An epitome of a week's labour —
Mrs. Wrathall's religious enjoyments — Samuel meets with
one converted Jew, and attempts the Christian improve
ment of another — Preaches out of doors — Visits Michael
Angelo Taylor, Esq. — Farther account of Mrs. Wrathall —
Samuel's usefulness — His love of Yorkshire — Enjoys a ride
into the country — Goes into Kent — Tent-preaching — Is re-
proved for loud praying — His views of death — Spiritualizes
a thunder-storm — An African — Mrs. Wrathall's death —
Samuel visits Windsor — Is rendered a blessing to the people
— Returns to London — Is called into Yorkshire to preach a
funeral sermon, 252

CHAPTER XII.

Takes a tour through different parts of Yorkshire — Low
state of the work of God at Warter — Gives the preference
to vocal music in a place of worship — Goes into the Snaith
circuit — Goole — Meets with old friends — Is affected with
early recollections, on visiting the scene of Martha's juvenile
days — Prayer meetings — Returns to Yorkshire — Labours in
the Easingwold circuit — Is again cheered with the sight of
old associates — His increasing popularity — Meets with a
serious accident by a fall from his horse — His conduct when
under medical attendance — Is visited by Mr. Dawson — His
partial restoration to health — Visits the West Riding — Pro-
ceeds into Lancashire — Is attacked by an infidel while
preaching out of doors at Bolton — Is summoned by letter to
Grassington — Becomes seriously indisposed — Witnesses the
happy death of his niece — Returns home — Declines rapidly
in health— Attends to some funeral arrangements — His state
of mind — His triumphant death — The general sympathy ex
cited on the occasion — Conclusion — Notes, . 278

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